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3.52 AVERAGE
3.52 AVERAGE
Not my cup of tea. I just can’t get into the book.
DNFed at 72%
I really, really wanted to love Motheater. It had everything I could want: an ancient witch, nature versus industry, a little mystery and sapphics, all set in Appalachian mountains. What's not to love?
Well... a lot. Despite a relatively strong start, it started to drag rather quickly. I found myself delaying the next reading session because I knew I would make pitiful progress and not even enjoy what I was reading.
Bennie, the main character, was pretty boring; and so unreliable in her personality I couldn't keep up. One moment she'd be endearing or interested in Motheater and the next she'd be angry, seemingly for little reason if at all. Her constant reminders of her dead best friend felt like the author did not trust the readers to retain the character's main motivation.
Motheater was better, despite being pretty blank as a character in the Bennie chapters. Where she really shined were her own chapters as Esther, which were the most interesting part of the book.
My main issue was probably the pacing: I was expecting and actual fight of nature against industry, but it was all dragged out in the chapters where it actually happened, and the rest (most of the book) was just the main character talking in circles.
Bennie and Motheater's romance, of which I haven't read much, was all to predictable and yet unbelievable. Nothing about it felt natural to me, rather its arrival in the plot seemed very sudden and not at all in line with the behaviours of the characters prior to that point.
I won't speak of the religious aspect of the magic, as I am much too ignorant on its basis in actual practices; but I do wish we were given more information on it, rather than just thrust into events or recollections with no idea why the characters do what they do. The magic system, though mentionned at length, also remained pretty vague throughout.
Motheater was unfortunately huge disappointment for me. I think it has a strong foundation but would have benefited from more thorough editing in terms of pacing and character development.
Thank you to Net Galley for providing me with an e-arc!
I really, really wanted to love Motheater. It had everything I could want: an ancient witch, nature versus industry, a little mystery and sapphics, all set in Appalachian mountains. What's not to love?
Well... a lot. Despite a relatively strong start, it started to drag rather quickly. I found myself delaying the next reading session because I knew I would make pitiful progress and not even enjoy what I was reading.
Bennie, the main character, was pretty boring; and so unreliable in her personality I couldn't keep up. One moment she'd be endearing or interested in Motheater and the next she'd be angry, seemingly for little reason if at all. Her constant reminders of her dead best friend felt like the author did not trust the readers to retain the character's main motivation.
Motheater was better, despite being pretty blank as a character in the Bennie chapters. Where she really shined were her own chapters as Esther, which were the most interesting part of the book.
My main issue was probably the pacing: I was expecting and actual fight of nature against industry, but it was all dragged out in the chapters where it actually happened, and the rest (most of the book) was just the main character talking in circles.
Bennie and Motheater's romance, of which I haven't read much, was all to predictable and yet unbelievable. Nothing about it felt natural to me, rather its arrival in the plot seemed very sudden and not at all in line with the behaviours of the characters prior to that point.
I won't speak of the religious aspect of the magic, as I am much too ignorant on its basis in actual practices; but I do wish we were given more information on it, rather than just thrust into events or recollections with no idea why the characters do what they do. The magic system, though mentionned at length, also remained pretty vague throughout.
Motheater was unfortunately huge disappointment for me. I think it has a strong foundation but would have benefited from more thorough editing in terms of pacing and character development.
Thank you to Net Galley for providing me with an e-arc!
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Gay yearning in Appalachia with witches, highly recommended for anyone who likes ghost stories and hates capitalism.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for providing the copy in exchange of an honest review.
I was really intrigued by the firsts chapters of this novel, it started mysterious, dark & intriguing. I liked Bennie and Motheater the moment i met them. They both seemed interesting, had a lot going on and i was excited to find out.
It took me a while to finish this novel, because as much as i was enjoying it at first, the more time i spent away from it the more i did not want to come back.
At first, I did not fully understand why, the story even if not exactly what promised by the premise was interesting and so was the setting. But the characters... Felt really two dimensional, their personalities and characteristics were almost interchangeable, I cannot really tell you what makes none of them unique.
Bennie, the main character, is a black queer woman, but apart from a few paragraphs here and there, her blackness doesn't impact anything about herself, it feels weird that if you drastically changed her appearances nothing about her.
I did not connect with any of the character or how the story progressed. I really enjoyed the beginning but the further along i went, the less sense and more abrupt it felt.
This are my opinions, i value interesting characters more than plot in many occasions, and i do recommend picking it up if you are interested.
I was really intrigued by the firsts chapters of this novel, it started mysterious, dark & intriguing. I liked Bennie and Motheater the moment i met them. They both seemed interesting, had a lot going on and i was excited to find out.
It took me a while to finish this novel, because as much as i was enjoying it at first, the more time i spent away from it the more i did not want to come back.
At first, I did not fully understand why, the story even if not exactly what promised by the premise was interesting and so was the setting. But the characters... Felt really two dimensional, their personalities and characteristics were almost interchangeable, I cannot really tell you what makes none of them unique.
Bennie, the main character, is a black queer woman, but apart from a few paragraphs here and there, her blackness doesn't impact anything about herself, it feels weird that if you drastically changed her appearances nothing about her.
I did not connect with any of the character or how the story progressed. I really enjoyed the beginning but the further along i went, the less sense and more abrupt it felt.
This are my opinions, i value interesting characters more than plot in many occasions, and i do recommend picking it up if you are interested.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I opened this book expecting a witchy fantasy. It is important to note that while that is technically true, I think it’s better served being described as a literary exploration of industry and nature that uses magical realism.
Once I refocused my expectations for the story I really enjoyed my time with it. It’s slow, with a solid amount of character depth. I enjoyed the messy relationship and character growth, but I do wish the magical elements that were intended to be shocking were given a little more page space to allow those images to sink in. They felt too brief and not as impactful as I believe they were intended to be.
Overall I think this book is worth a read, and I look forward to reading this author again.
Once I refocused my expectations for the story I really enjoyed my time with it. It’s slow, with a solid amount of character depth. I enjoyed the messy relationship and character growth, but I do wish the magical elements that were intended to be shocking were given a little more page space to allow those images to sink in. They felt too brief and not as impactful as I believe they were intended to be.
Overall I think this book is worth a read, and I look forward to reading this author again.
Déjà mon accès netgalley a expiré, mais surtout c'était très mal écrit lol no regrets
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No