emsavidge 's review for:

Motheater by Linda H. Codega

2.0

slow-paced

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This book has some great ideas, specifically the Appalachian folk magic with a connection to Pentecostalism. However, the pacing and plot beats are a mess. There are huge swaths of the book where it feels like the plot progression is going nowhere and I suspect that the Esther chapters are to blame. It would feel like the plot was finally moving and then the next chapter would be set in the past bringing everything to a halt. I would have preferred to not have flashback chapters and instead to give Motheater more POV chapters where you impart the same information. It felt like maybe 40% of Esther’s chapters were actually necessary for the plot. I think that more Motheater chapters could also help with how clunky the romance felt. We mostly got Bennie’s perspective on their romance so it felt quite one sided. Finally, I wish that there was more delving into the Pentecostal stuff. I find religions that have a connection to folk magic/folk traditions so interesting but all we really got were like two scenes in the church. I just wanted more because I thought it was the most interesting aspect of the story.

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.