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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Beautifully written and a wonderful story, but it felt like I was never going to reach the end.
Thanks to the publisher for giving me an eARC of this title through Netgalley. Unfortunately, it didn't work for this particular reader.
Bennie is investigating mysterious death of miners in Kiron in Appalachia. In search of evidence against the corporation operating in the area, she finds a barely alive woman in the sludge, who turns out to be a witch buried in the mountain for past 150 years, before which she was also fighting the onset of industrial modernity.
What I liked: stylized language and the vibe of something natural-magical.
What I liked less: the interactions between Bennie and Motheater didn't really work for me; Motheater's subjectivity in the present timeline was very lacking; Motheater's-in-the-past stance against modernity seemed somewhat contrived (not that she has this opinion, but specifically how she expressed it - reads more like something of a critique from inside modernity).
But, most importantly, I just didn't feel interested enough to see what would happen to them next or to find out how they had ended up here. I have tried to get back to this read several times, but now I finally looked at other reviews, checked that things that are bothering me aren't going away in the remainder of the book, so let's call it a DNF.
Bennie is investigating mysterious death of miners in Kiron in Appalachia. In search of evidence against the corporation operating in the area, she finds a barely alive woman in the sludge, who turns out to be a witch buried in the mountain for past 150 years, before which she was also fighting the onset of industrial modernity.
What I liked: stylized language and the vibe of something natural-magical.
What I liked less: the interactions between Bennie and Motheater didn't really work for me; Motheater's subjectivity in the present timeline was very lacking; Motheater's-in-the-past stance against modernity seemed somewhat contrived (not that she has this opinion, but specifically how she expressed it - reads more like something of a critique from inside modernity).
But, most importantly, I just didn't feel interested enough to see what would happen to them next or to find out how they had ended up here. I have tried to get back to this read several times, but now I finally looked at other reviews, checked that things that are bothering me aren't going away in the remainder of the book, so let's call it a DNF.
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC copy of this book!
While the story was winding and I didn’t get a good grasp of how the magic worked, I had a firm visualization of every moment of this story. I stayed up too late finishing it and found some tears in my eyes at the ending. Probably best read in the shadow of a mountain on a cool fall evening with a loved one nearby to appreciate after you turn the last page.
While the story was winding and I didn’t get a good grasp of how the magic worked, I had a firm visualization of every moment of this story. I stayed up too late finishing it and found some tears in my eyes at the ending. Probably best read in the shadow of a mountain on a cool fall evening with a loved one nearby to appreciate after you turn the last page.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Amidst the Appalachian Mountains in Virginia, Benethea "Bennie" Mattox discovers a half-drowned woman, later known as Motheater, shrouded in mystery. The Motheater is the last ridge witch but is suffering from amnesia. Bennie has been investigating the death of her friend after a coal mining accident. Bennie is convinced it is the mining company's fault, but Motheater believes something more sinister is happening on the mountain. They work together to reveal the truth.
Bennie's character is profoundly empathetic and morally driven, adding layers to her quest as she navigates through personal loss and the more significant battle between nature and industry. She is willing to blow up her life to find the truth. Motheater brings a magical element and a connection to the land that balances the industrial life of the time. The dynamic between Bennie and Motheater is complex and tender. The pacing could be faster and more varied, but it doesn't ruin the read. Overall, this Sapphic fantasy book is a beautifully crafted story.
I received an ARC ebook for my honest review. Thank you, NetGalley and Kensington Publishing, Erewhon Books.
Bennie's character is profoundly empathetic and morally driven, adding layers to her quest as she navigates through personal loss and the more significant battle between nature and industry. She is willing to blow up her life to find the truth. Motheater brings a magical element and a connection to the land that balances the industrial life of the time. The dynamic between Bennie and Motheater is complex and tender. The pacing could be faster and more varied, but it doesn't ruin the read. Overall, this Sapphic fantasy book is a beautifully crafted story.
I received an ARC ebook for my honest review. Thank you, NetGalley and Kensington Publishing, Erewhon Books.
Motheater took me a bit to get into, but once I did, I came out enjoying it. It is certainly a slow burn, so anyone looking for a quick paced book should head elsewhere. Codega does a great job of painting the setting of this Appalachian town, its surroundings, and the characters that inhabit it. To me, it all felt very alive. I enjoyed the way the magic was raw and wild. It was cool to see the land itself take on its own personhood. It felt in line with the worldview expressed in something like Braiding Sweetgrass. It was also nice to see the queer representation, even though parts of it felt unearned. The other piece that I loved seeing was the mix of sacred and pagan. Seeing Motheater take this religious framework she grew up with and realign it in a way that gave her power wholly separate from that faith was neat. The way she talks about her father's church and the idea that people could be worshipping something completely different from what they think they are worshipping was also intriguing. As someone who has walked away from the religion they grew up with, it hits in a way that is hard to explain. All in all, a decent read if you are willing to give it the time.
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
The story had cool concept, but the execution wasn't great. The story moved really slowly and the character's motivations were sometimes unclear, it seemed like decisions were made for the sake of the plot rather than consistency.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an eARC!
I love a good fantasy-horror-witchy vibe book. Reading this did satisfy those loves but it was also a very slow paced read.
The book is very interesting but it felt a little dull? I love angry pissed off witches but it sort of fell off. Overall the book was enjoyable and I do think it gives the southern gothic horror vibe but I don’t know if it would ever be a reread for me.
I love a good fantasy-horror-witchy vibe book. Reading this did satisfy those loves but it was also a very slow paced read.
The book is very interesting but it felt a little dull? I love angry pissed off witches but it sort of fell off. Overall the book was enjoyable and I do think it gives the southern gothic horror vibe but I don’t know if it would ever be a reread for me.
adventurous
dark
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Thanks to NetGalley, Kensington Publishing, and Erewhon Books for providing an eARC of Motheater by Linda H. Codega in exchange for this honest review!
🐦 Vibes
• Eco-Horror
• Anti-Industrialization
• Backwater Towns
• Big Witch Energy
• Nonlinear Narration
Big heads up! There are witch activities that may not be for everyone, such as animal sacrifices and self-harm.
Motheater takes place across parallel times in the Appalachian Kiron, a small town near the mountain of Kire. In the past, the Appalachian Neighbor Esther fights against the looming threat of industrialization and machinery coming to mine Kire while in the present Bennie and Motheater try to save Kiron from the vengeful titan that has been stealing away miners.
I really enjoyed the ecological horror aspects of this story, but the near-constant bible verbiage made it a struggle for me to stay immersed. I did find my mind reading Esther's chapters with the heaviest drawl ever, which I would definitely recommend doing 👌
The one thing Motheater does really well is create an atmospheric story. You can definitely feel the wilderness of the mountains, the desperation of the townspeople for their livelihood.
I don't have any particular strong feelings here; Motheater was a pretty middle of the road novel for me. The ending was inevitable, but not particularly satisfying. It also felt like there should have been much more urgency in the character's actions, but after almost every major revelation they go "well 🤷🏼♀️ time to eat and get a good night's sleep!". And the number of times Motheater says "I don't remember" regarding some part of herself or the past, I wanted to throttle her.
🐦 Vibes
• Eco-Horror
• Anti-Industrialization
• Backwater Towns
• Big Witch Energy
• Nonlinear Narration
Big heads up! There are witch activities that may not be for everyone, such as animal sacrifices and self-harm.
Motheater takes place across parallel times in the Appalachian Kiron, a small town near the mountain of Kire. In the past, the Appalachian Neighbor Esther fights against the looming threat of industrialization and machinery coming to mine Kire while in the present Bennie and Motheater try to save Kiron from the vengeful titan that has been stealing away miners.
I really enjoyed the ecological horror aspects of this story, but the near-constant bible verbiage made it a struggle for me to stay immersed. I did find my mind reading Esther's chapters with the heaviest drawl ever, which I would definitely recommend doing 👌
The one thing Motheater does really well is create an atmospheric story. You can definitely feel the wilderness of the mountains, the desperation of the townspeople for their livelihood.
I don't have any particular strong feelings here; Motheater was a pretty middle of the road novel for me. The ending was inevitable, but not particularly satisfying. It also felt like there should have been much more urgency in the character's actions, but after almost every major revelation they go "well 🤷🏼♀️ time to eat and get a good night's sleep!". And the number of times Motheater says "I don't remember" regarding some part of herself or the past, I wanted to throttle her.