arockinsamsara 's review for:

Motheater by Linda H. Codega

3.75

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-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: No

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 This dense, rumbling novel, blending Appalachian folktale, eco-horror, and literary fiction, is a testament to community and sacrifice. It is a love letter to a people and place both neglected and exploited, without shying away from the thorny complications and rough edges such love entails. 

 

The characters were richly detailed and nuanced, and I was able to really feel their presence. This is especially true for the two central characters but also for many of the ancillary characters. The overall story was compelling, and I appreciated the moving back and forth between past and present, with the mystery doled out and revealed in good measure. The exploration of magic and how it relates to the environment, the sacrifice that magic entails and what one might need to give up in order to serve a community they love, even when spurned in response, was beautifully done, a rich vein of thought and contemplation. The writing itself was strong and steadfast, and it felt like it paralleled the depth of the story, the despair, tenacity, determination, and hope that the characters carry with them. The world was really-well realized, through the characters and their aspirations as well as the writing itself, and it created a great atmosphere that really carried the story. 

 

The pacing was a little slow. The moving between past and present across chapters helped keep things moving, but it needed a little more. I don’t know if this means maybe trimming the page count or if there just needed to be something, especially through the middle section, which gave a little forward momentum. I was never bored, it wasn’t a matter of being disinterested, I was invested in the characters and story the whole time, but there were sections that felt a little sluggish. Additionally, the romantic subplot at the end felt like an unnecessary addition, and indeed felt like something that came out of left field instead of being organic and deliberate. Given the state of the characters at that point, where they had come from and what they were facing, it was hard to believe those characters would fall into that at that time. It didn’t detract from the story, I suppose, but it felt out of place and was a little distracting, and it didn’t feel like it added much. 

 

Both of those are small quibbles, though. The story feels like it draws on a deep well of love for a place and its history, and that is shaped by an evocative and lush language and an exciting type of faith & magic. This story feels like it comes from the earth, a story of intimacy, sacrifice, and devotion. It is definitely a fun read, and if you are able to go along with a little bit of languid pacing through the second act then there is a lot of joy and meaning to mine in this tale. 

 

I want to thank the author, the publisher Kensington Publishing | Erewhon Books, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.