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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I received an advance reader copy of this book from my local indie bookstore, Wolfe & Kron Books, through their ARCANA program. In exchange from my sneak preview, here is an honest review.
TLDR: Intruiging concept executed poorly due to surface-level explorations of themes, poor structural choices, and insta-love.
Review: I tagged this book as "mysterious," because that was the closest vibe out of the options available on Storygraph. Unfortunately, the true vibe of this book was closer to "apathetic" for me, mainly because I had a hard time caring about any of the characters and their struggles. The plot was slow, meandering, and fell flat at what should have been impactful moments. The dual timeline structural set-up (past and present) simply did not work for this story; things were revealed too soon, repeated too much, or revealed in unsatisfactory ways, which all greatly impacted the flow of the story.
I was disappointed that the mystery of Motheater promised by the blurb on the back was not, in fact, a mystery at all thanks to the dual timelines. And I was further disappointed by the hollowness of the themes explored. In some ways, it felt like this novel was trying to do too much; none of the potential themes - environmentalism, mining exploitation, economic progress at the expense of nature, climate change - got a truly in-depth exploration.
The slow-burn romance felt forced as well (and also happened quite quickly, especially for an amnesiac out-of-time witch and a newly single woman - was Motheater Bennie's rebound?). That isn't even touching on the power imbalance financially between the two, but I digress.
The last thing I'll touch on is the use of Scripture in Motheater's magic. While creative and good worldbuilding, the extensive use of it did begin to get annoying. I also had trouble seeing the connection between the chosen passages and the magic being performed. It felt flawed, somehow? Was there any connection between the two, or could any passage be used for any spell? As such, I think the selections could have been a bit more discerning and meaningful to the story being told.
This novel had a lot of promise (e.g. descriptive writing and creative worldbuilding), but I believe it needed better editing and development to really soar.
TLDR: Intruiging concept executed poorly due to surface-level explorations of themes, poor structural choices, and insta-love.
Review: I tagged this book as "mysterious," because that was the closest vibe out of the options available on Storygraph. Unfortunately, the true vibe of this book was closer to "apathetic" for me, mainly because I had a hard time caring about any of the characters and their struggles. The plot was slow, meandering, and fell flat at what should have been impactful moments. The dual timeline structural set-up (past and present) simply did not work for this story; things were revealed too soon, repeated too much, or revealed in unsatisfactory ways, which all greatly impacted the flow of the story.
I was disappointed that the mystery of Motheater promised by the blurb on the back was not, in fact, a mystery at all thanks to the dual timelines. And I was further disappointed by the hollowness of the themes explored. In some ways, it felt like this novel was trying to do too much; none of the potential themes - environmentalism, mining exploitation, economic progress at the expense of nature, climate change - got a truly in-depth exploration.
The slow-burn romance felt forced as well (and also happened quite quickly, especially for an amnesiac out-of-time witch and a newly single woman - was Motheater Bennie's rebound?). That isn't even touching on the power imbalance financially between the two, but I digress.
The last thing I'll touch on is the use of Scripture in Motheater's magic. While creative and good worldbuilding, the extensive use of it did begin to get annoying. I also had trouble seeing the connection between the chosen passages and the magic being performed. It felt flawed, somehow? Was there any connection between the two, or could any passage be used for any spell? As such, I think the selections could have been a bit more discerning and meaningful to the story being told.
This novel had a lot of promise (e.g. descriptive writing and creative worldbuilding), but I believe it needed better editing and development to really soar.
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
There was something particularly heart-wrenching about reading this in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, living in Western North Carolina. I picked it up after the storm seeking communal comfort, hoping to soften my grief with a story deeply rooted in the history of my home.
This story was absolutely a comfort and balm, while also ripping my heart open. I don't really have words for what I felt while reading this - all I can say is that it was beautiful and I cried at the end.
Protect what you love is a rallying cry for this community, one that I first heard while living in VA not far from the pipeline protests. To hear it echoed in this story, while watching the WNC community rally around each other in the wake of destruction...it was what I needed.
I found this book at exactly the right time. I hope you find it when you need it, as well.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This story was absolutely a comfort and balm, while also ripping my heart open. I don't really have words for what I felt while reading this - all I can say is that it was beautiful and I cried at the end.
Protect what you love is a rallying cry for this community, one that I first heard while living in VA not far from the pipeline protests. To hear it echoed in this story, while watching the WNC community rally around each other in the wake of destruction...it was what I needed.
I found this book at exactly the right time. I hope you find it when you need it, as well.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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:
Yes
Overall, I think this was an incredibly well-written and perfectly atmospheric book that is a very impressive debut novel. However, even though I largely enjoyed this novel, it was a bit confusing plot-wise at times. The story immediately starts full throttle on the first page. It was a bit jarring to get into at first and really wish there was a bit more of an introduction into the characters and setting before we got to the main plot line. I think the Appalachian setting was so perfect for this story and really loved learning about the social and economic culture that makes up this part of the world. While I did end up feeling pretty immersed in this setting, I wish we could have learned a little more about it in the beginning, specifically Bennie's everyday life. With how immediate everything starts, it kind of feels like Bennie just spawned for the events of the book to take place. Everything also ends pretty abruptly as well, but I think that it works a bit better than the rushed introduction and didn't mind it as much.
Furthermore, I was a little confused by everyone's motivations in the story, and when I did figure it out, it felt like it kind of got dropped with no warning. I think I figured it out by the end, but the plot was so meandering at times, that it got too confusing at times.
However, I did really love Motheater/Esther's moral dilemma on whether or not she should protect the well-being of the environment or of her people. I think it's a very relevant debate in what's happening right now with climate change and how we fix that. I saw some reviews saying that they didn't like the ending because it wasn't really a triumph of environmentalism over capitalism, but I don't think that's really the message of the book. Yes, we need to help protect nature and we are currently on a path of complete destruction because of our society's absolute worship of profit over everything else, but we cannot forget the well-being of people as well. A big point of this book is that if the mining industry leaves Kiron then the town will completely collapse. These people, who are already economically vulnerable, will no longer have any work opportunities and will completely loose their way of life. What would happen to those who can't move in order to find work and would it even be okay to completely abandon this town that is home to generations of history? It's a very interesting perspective that isn't really considered when we think of the climate change debate.
The characters themselves are also a great part of this book. They're all complex and they all have to fight their own inner turmoil while trying to defeat this godly being. I loved Bennie and Motheater and loved how the author wrote their magic. I love how connected the witches/magic is connected to the Earth and its animals. The connection between Bennie and Motheater was very sweet, but I think the romance was a little unnecessary. They had a literal world-ending monster to defeat and Motheater had to fight to figure out her identity after basically coming back from the dead, so it just felt like they had way too much on their plate and they didn't need to worry about any romance.
While I think this book could have been cleaned up a little bit plot-wise, it was overall an incredible read and would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys atmospheric witchy reads.
Furthermore, I was a little confused by everyone's motivations in the story, and when I did figure it out, it felt like it kind of got dropped with no warning. I think I figured it out by the end, but the plot was so meandering at times, that it got too confusing at times.
However, I did really love Motheater/Esther's moral dilemma on whether or not she should protect the well-being of the environment or of her people. I think it's a very relevant debate in what's happening right now with climate change and how we fix that. I saw some reviews saying that they didn't like the ending because it wasn't really a triumph of environmentalism over capitalism, but I don't think that's really the message of the book. Yes, we need to help protect nature and we are currently on a path of complete destruction because of our society's absolute worship of profit over everything else, but we cannot forget the well-being of people as well. A big point of this book is that if the mining industry leaves Kiron then the town will completely collapse. These people, who are already economically vulnerable, will no longer have any work opportunities and will completely loose their way of life. What would happen to those who can't move in order to find work and would it even be okay to completely abandon this town that is home to generations of history? It's a very interesting perspective that isn't really considered when we think of the climate change debate.
The characters themselves are also a great part of this book. They're all complex and they all have to fight their own inner turmoil while trying to defeat this godly being. I loved Bennie and Motheater and loved how the author wrote their magic. I love how connected the witches/magic is connected to the Earth and its animals. The connection between Bennie and Motheater was very sweet, but I think the romance was a little unnecessary. They had a literal world-ending monster to defeat and Motheater had to fight to figure out her identity after basically coming back from the dead, so it just felt like they had way too much on their plate and they didn't need to worry about any romance.
While I think this book could have been cleaned up a little bit plot-wise, it was overall an incredible read and would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys atmospheric witchy reads.
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
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:
Yes
"It was always a good idea to be kind to water".
The book starts with Bennie, an African American young adult, discovering a century and something old witch Motheater in the forest. Bennie is investigating the death of her friend at the hands of the mining company. Both women team up to take down the capitalists and get close in the process (they are both bi). It’s historical fantasy which means that even though the story isn’t true it well could be. Although you could say it’s magical realism on the ground that magic is realistic. Realistic as in it could well be our world. Anyway I liked the book. It has two plotlines: past and present. Personally I couldn’t care less about the past plotline, mainly because halfway through the book I already knew all I needed to know.
It’s the story about people making the best of a terrible situation. It’s the story about people trying to survive in the capitalist world that pollutes the rivers and mountains.
I like Bennie. She wants to help everyone, takes no bullshit and is kind to people and animals. Although she struggles with talking to people plainly. Which is honestly relatable.
Zach is head over heels in love with Bennie but she doesn’t want to compromise her morals for him. He seems like a sweet guy if a bit passive.
Motheater is a witch out of time confused with the modern world (what do you mean there’s been two world wars???). She has great love for Appalachian people and the mountains, doesn’t want to compromise with the industry but it’s near impossible to delay progress. She can be pretty dangerous when she chooses to be.
Jasper, her friend who’s Achilean and has terrible taste in men also wants to protect the Appalachian people but he doesn’t see a problem in progress.
"Bennie knew that justice was buried underneath. She would have to settle for grief instead".
It’s a sad book. It’s not even the kind of book you can cry about because what else did you expect from the capitalists?
Thank you Kensington press and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The book starts with Bennie, an African American young adult, discovering a century and something old witch Motheater in the forest. Bennie is investigating the death of her friend at the hands of the mining company. Both women team up to take down the capitalists and get close in the process (they are both bi). It’s historical fantasy which means that even though the story isn’t true it well could be. Although you could say it’s magical realism on the ground that magic is realistic. Realistic as in it could well be our world. Anyway I liked the book. It has two plotlines: past and present. Personally I couldn’t care less about the past plotline, mainly because halfway through the book I already knew all I needed to know.
It’s the story about people making the best of a terrible situation. It’s the story about people trying to survive in the capitalist world that pollutes the rivers and mountains.
I like Bennie. She wants to help everyone, takes no bullshit and is kind to people and animals. Although she struggles with talking to people plainly. Which is honestly relatable.
Zach is head over heels in love with Bennie but she doesn’t want to compromise her morals for him. He seems like a sweet guy if a bit passive.
Motheater is a witch out of time confused with the modern world (what do you mean there’s been two world wars???). She has great love for Appalachian people and the mountains, doesn’t want to compromise with the industry but it’s near impossible to delay progress. She can be pretty dangerous when she chooses to be.
Jasper, her friend who’s Achilean and has terrible taste in men also wants to protect the Appalachian people but he doesn’t see a problem in progress.
"Bennie knew that justice was buried underneath. She would have to settle for grief instead".
It’s a sad book. It’s not even the kind of book you can cry about because what else did you expect from the capitalists?
Thank you Kensington press and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
literally just a problem with the payoff of some of the concepts that were introduced
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-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:
Yes
while this has some beautiful writing and an interesting atmosphere of appalachian/southern folk horror in a litfic story, i was disappointed by this personally.
the pacing was quite slow throughout, which made this a slog to read at times. the main characters of motheater and bennie are quite interesting, but i didn't really buy the romance at the end. bennie was definitely mesmerized by this ethereal witch and we had the benefit of more of her POV, but for me motheater had too much going on to really think about romance and her POV was in the past.
this also read more like litfic with folk horror and fantasy elements rather than a fantasy book. which is fine, but i think litfic readers who are feeling like some fantasy/horror will be more satisfied with this than fantasy readers.
i didn't care for the amount of christian scripture and fusion of religion with magic, just personal taste.
ultimately the most disappointing part was that while i loved the female rage and themes of corporate capitalism destroying the environment and nature fighting back, we don't really get that triumphant victory of nature > capitalism ending that would've been v satisfying.
the pacing was quite slow throughout, which made this a slog to read at times. the main characters of motheater and bennie are quite interesting, but i didn't really buy the romance at the end. bennie was definitely mesmerized by this ethereal witch and we had the benefit of more of her POV, but for me motheater had too much going on to really think about romance and her POV was in the past.
this also read more like litfic with folk horror and fantasy elements rather than a fantasy book. which is fine, but i think litfic readers who are feeling like some fantasy/horror will be more satisfied with this than fantasy readers.
i didn't care for the amount of christian scripture and fusion of religion with magic, just personal taste.
ultimately the most disappointing part was that while i loved the female rage and themes of corporate capitalism destroying the environment and nature fighting back, we don't really get that triumphant victory of nature > capitalism ending that would've been v satisfying.
an honest arc review ♡
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Sapphic Appalachian horror-adjacent book that says fuck the capitalist mining corporations, sign me right on up! And this ended up being such a phenomenal book. It was slow and quiet in some ways, and I wouldn’t necessarily consider it horror, but as the world is developed and the characters’ nuances are developed, this became hard to put down. I don’t want to give too much away, but Bennie and Motheater are such complex women trying to do their best when forces outside them are making things harder, and the way they work towards their goals, it’s really such an excellent book. I look forward to more stories from Linda H. Codega and definitely would not mind seeing what happens next for Bennie!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
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
This is what real magic looks like. Not the wicca-kind with shiny rocks and pretty cards. This magic is blood and bones and darkness. And I love it.
In "Motheater" by Linda H. Codega, we are introduced to Bennie, who in her search for both justice and revenge on the local mining companies finds the unconscious body of a witch. Motheater has forgotten who she is, but her purpose in this world is clear; protect the Appalachian mountains.
As the story goes on, we get several POVs (or do we?) and through the eyes of the main characters, we are thrown right into the battle between nature and industrialism. "Motheater" takes us for a ride in a thought-provoking, emotional roller coaster, and offers constant reminders that it's not witchcraft that makes our world dark. The use of magic in this book is going to be a punch in the face of certain religious groups who once thought it acceptable (and still do in some areas) to eliminate women solely based on their skills and knowledge, and I am all here for it.
If you are a fan of powerful magic, environmentalism, characters who only get more complex with time, and a slow-burn romance that is intense, but doesn't take over the entire story - then this book is for you.
* * *
Huge thank you to Kensington Publishing for making this book available through NetGalley.
All opinions are my own.
In "Motheater" by Linda H. Codega, we are introduced to Bennie, who in her search for both justice and revenge on the local mining companies finds the unconscious body of a witch. Motheater has forgotten who she is, but her purpose in this world is clear; protect the Appalachian mountains.
As the story goes on, we get several POVs (or do we?) and through the eyes of the main characters, we are thrown right into the battle between nature and industrialism. "Motheater" takes us for a ride in a thought-provoking, emotional roller coaster, and offers constant reminders that it's not witchcraft that makes our world dark. The use of magic in this book is going to be a punch in the face of certain religious groups who once thought it acceptable (and still do in some areas) to eliminate women solely based on their skills and knowledge, and I am all here for it.
If you are a fan of powerful magic, environmentalism, characters who only get more complex with time, and a slow-burn romance that is intense, but doesn't take over the entire story - then this book is for you.
* * *
Huge thank you to Kensington Publishing for making this book available through NetGalley.
All opinions are my own.