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3.52 AVERAGE
3.52 AVERAGE
This book suffers somewhat from the Debut Blues. The pacing is verrry slow and at some points the motivations seem somewhat confused at times. I didn't start really clicking with the narrative until about 60% of the way through, which is a looong time to really get invested in a story. I loved the characters, though, and their complicated relationships. I liked the setting, and the flowery prose. I adored that Motheater relied on passages from the Bible to direct her magic - not necessary for all witches, but something she chooses to do because it fits her understanding of the world. Ultimately I think this book could have used some heavier developmental editing, but it is an okay read, and the rich language and compelling characters made it worth sticking out the pacing and muddled motivations/plot arc for me. I will be really interested to see what Lin Codega writes next, as they can only improve from here.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Death
I won’t lie, this book frustrated the heck out of me. I should have LOVED it. A queer romance, witches, folk magic, atmospheric Appalachian setting, fighting against the evils of extraction mining. This book should have been an exiting read! But I was disappointed. Everything felt rushed, I barely had enough time to know who was who or the context of the story before it stumbled ahead. The writing itself I felt was very clogged, even ham-fisted at times. Repeating the phrase “Appalachian,” doesn’t actually do anything to convey the unique landscapes of a vast mountain range. I wanted to like this story, wanted to fall in love w the two main characters but they just read as flat. I pushed through, hoping for it to get better but the ending was anticlimactic. I’m sorry, I just really wanted this to be better. There’s great potential here with the ingredients of a powerhouse of a story. I just felt this wasn’t it. 😔
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The pacing of this book was too slow for me & started to feel repetitive. It got to a point were I was dreading picking it up because it felt like a chore to read.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Truly wonderful and gripping. I had a hard time putting it down, as proved by the fact that I read it in a day. Doesn't help the fact that my soul has been aching for mountains these days whether the old mountains of Appalachia or the new mountains of the west my soul aches for them all the same
Motheater by Linda H Codega began strong with a gripping scene that immediately pulled me in. Our main character, Bennie, found an unconscious woman in the river. She retrieved her and put her in the bed of her truck to take her into town. This scene introduced our two main characters, revealed the location, described the setting, and gave us a glimpse at the conflict. It was beautifully written and led me to have high hopes.
That being said, I have a complicated relationship with this book. I felt compelled to finish it, though it was a struggle.
The concept was intriguing: nature's fight against industrialization. The characters were diverse and complex: people of color, a one-hundred-and-fifty-year-old witch, miners, businessmen, queers, and nature itself. The descriptions of the Appalachian Mountain region were thorough and immersive. The dual timeline gave historical context and cultural representation that helped paint a complete picture of the intricate situation our characters find themselves in.
The book was long, and the pace was slow. The writing style was challenging. Despite all the things I listed that I appreciated, there was an overabundance of similes. The poetic and flowery words combined with period and regional dialect were too much. It muddled the plot and made the whole thing feel a bit convoluted. I never had a real grasp on what was happening; it was just out of reach, fluttery like the moths flitting around Motheater's hair.
It is not exactly a romance, though our mains become attached throughout the novel.
The ending didn't move me like I thought it should have.
This book has a lot of value, and the author has done some good work. I just found it difficult to read.
Opinions are like, well, you know, so take from this what you will. It may very well be your next favorite read. It just wasn't mine.
#smalltown #coalminers #industrialization #AppalachianMountainRegion #WestVirginia #Virginia #witch #POC #sapphic #queer #culturalrep #dualtimeline #natureversushumans
I received this free ARC from NetGalley. This is my honest opinion.
That being said, I have a complicated relationship with this book. I felt compelled to finish it, though it was a struggle.
The concept was intriguing: nature's fight against industrialization. The characters were diverse and complex: people of color, a one-hundred-and-fifty-year-old witch, miners, businessmen, queers, and nature itself. The descriptions of the Appalachian Mountain region were thorough and immersive. The dual timeline gave historical context and cultural representation that helped paint a complete picture of the intricate situation our characters find themselves in.
The book was long, and the pace was slow. The writing style was challenging. Despite all the things I listed that I appreciated, there was an overabundance of similes. The poetic and flowery words combined with period and regional dialect were too much. It muddled the plot and made the whole thing feel a bit convoluted. I never had a real grasp on what was happening; it was just out of reach, fluttery like the moths flitting around Motheater's hair.
It is not exactly a romance, though our mains become attached throughout the novel.
The ending didn't move me like I thought it should have.
This book has a lot of value, and the author has done some good work. I just found it difficult to read.
Opinions are like, well, you know, so take from this what you will. It may very well be your next favorite read. It just wasn't mine.
#smalltown #coalminers #industrialization #AppalachianMountainRegion #WestVirginia #Virginia #witch #POC #sapphic #queer #culturalrep #dualtimeline #natureversushumans
I received this free ARC from NetGalley. This is my honest opinion.
A few years ago, I traveled through the Appalachian Mountains in Virginia and West Virginia and was moved and mesmerized by the size, culture, traditions, and history of these mountains and the people who once lived (some still do) within them. I would love to go back. This book did just that in such an interesting and beautiful way. It scratched my itch for historical fiction, stories of witches, and beautiful love stories mixed within different centuries of time. It’s unique and yet timely. I really enjoyed it!
Thank you to the author’s independent publisher and NetGalley for the ARC for my independent and honest review.
#netgalley #lindahcodega #motheater
Thank you to the author’s independent publisher and NetGalley for the ARC for my independent and honest review.
#netgalley #lindahcodega #motheater
adventurous
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is an interesting tale of witches communing with an Appalachian mountain against humans trying to mine it for profit. I enjoyed the beginning of the story well enough and Bennie is an interesting protagonist as she's sneaking around trying to find evidence that the local mining operation is hiding the deaths of up to thirty workers including her best friend, Kelly-Anne. Instead, she stumbles across Motheater, a woman who has lost her memory but appears to be able to work nature magic and has survived being encased in the mountain for 150 years.
The premise is fun and the most interesting parts of the story for me were Motheater and Bennie tackling modern life together and running around trying to find Motheater's origins or job her memory. Unfortunately, the book does slow down significantly around the 40% mark and retains that pace for most of the rest of the book, which caused me to knock down the rating a bit. It does pick up again for an exciting conclusion right at the end, but I'm not going to lie and say that the middle slog back in time and to present day is not a bit tough to get through.
Overall, a fun idea and I enjoyed the characters. I just wish the pacing has been better in the middle.
The premise is fun and the most interesting parts of the story for me were Motheater and Bennie tackling modern life together and running around trying to find Motheater's origins or job her memory. Unfortunately, the book does slow down significantly around the 40% mark and retains that pace for most of the rest of the book, which caused me to knock down the rating a bit. It does pick up again for an exciting conclusion right at the end, but I'm not going to lie and say that the middle slog back in time and to present day is not a bit tough to get through.
Overall, a fun idea and I enjoyed the characters. I just wish the pacing has been better in the middle.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced