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A review by idesofjaim
Motheater by Linda H. Codega
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Coming close off the heels of Compound Fracture by Andrew Joseph White, I was ready for another tale in Appalachia. Sadly, this one just could not hold my attention.
The premise of this novel is exciting but just not well executed. I don’t think the timeline split between past/present is bad, and I wouldn’t change it. However, neither time was paced well enough to feel like we were moving forward; everything was slogging along on either end. It was hard to stay invested when the book started off so strongly.
Bennie and Motheater/Esther feel decently developed but even then they don’t feel fully baked to me, except for maybe Bennie. The rest of the characters? Even less so, which is disappointing. The romance is the worst bit though; I can absolutely see Bennie and Moth holding reverence for each other, but not romantic love. It felt contrived and a convenient way to move the story along.
With how deep Bennie and Moth’s respective convictions are, the conclusion of this novel is a horrible letdown. It all happens so quickly too, even if I was ready for something to happen.
There are going to be readers put off by how much Christianity is interwoven into this book and Moth’s magic. However (from what I’ve research so far), this feels authentic to folk magic and the Christian roots of Appalachia, so to deviate would risk being inauthentic. It’s fair to know that religion will be central to this novel but it feels unfair to knock it without understanding. Which I will say is a credit to this book and Coedga in how it has led me to research further into Appalachian culture and history. I did also appreciate the Historical Notes at the end.
The premise of this novel is exciting but just not well executed. I don’t think the timeline split between past/present is bad, and I wouldn’t change it. However, neither time was paced well enough to feel like we were moving forward; everything was slogging along on either end. It was hard to stay invested when the book started off so strongly.
Bennie and Motheater/Esther feel decently developed but even then they don’t feel fully baked to me, except for maybe Bennie. The rest of the characters? Even less so, which is disappointing. The romance is the worst bit though; I can absolutely see Bennie and Moth holding reverence for each other, but not romantic love. It felt contrived and a convenient way to move the story along.
With how deep Bennie and Moth’s respective convictions are, the conclusion of this novel is a horrible letdown. It all happens so quickly too, even if I was ready for something to happen.
There are going to be readers put off by how much Christianity is interwoven into this book and Moth’s magic. However (from what I’ve research so far), this feels authentic to folk magic and the Christian roots of Appalachia, so to deviate would risk being inauthentic. It’s fair to know that religion will be central to this novel but it feels unfair to knock it without understanding. Which I will say is a credit to this book and Coedga in how it has led me to research further into Appalachian culture and history. I did also appreciate the Historical Notes at the end.