A review by readinginbetween
Motheater by Linda H. Codega

adventurous mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

I loved the vibes of Appalachian mountain setting and the folky witchcraft. My favorite concept was absorbing moths to receive messages from past souls. I wish we could have gained more insight into Esther’s past before becoming a Neighbour and into her magic and spells. Overall the story in the past was the one I felt more satisfied with. A lot of things have popped up but then just withered (e.g. the anti-mining corporation thriller thread). It often felt inconsistent or confusing. Pacing was a bit slow and characters motivations seems to change very quickly which made me lost. I don’t know, perhaps Benny was supposed to be a person who cannot make up her mind and is all over the place. To me, it could have been more powerful as a shorter story. The ideas were there but the delivery was a tad rough around the edges. 
Thank you to Kensington Publishing for providing this ARC for my honest review.