I absolutely loved this book, and it won't leave my mind! It felt like folk horror meets the X-Files. This story weaves horses, a reporter sent into the middle of nowhere, horses that have human babies (maybe?), and generational trauma. Definitely one of my favorite reads this year! I absolutely recommend this to horror fans!

Thank you so much to NetGalley & Quirk Books for this advanced copy of this book. I really love folk horror. The story also had the cultish vibes I also enjoy. While not for everyone, this story was in parts tragic and also bonkers. This should be an auto read for any horror fan who also loves horses. Check this out when it publishes August 6, 2024!

The description made this sound incredibly interesting and promising.
Instead I was left confused and feeling like I wasn't smart enough to be reading it.
I don't really understand what the point of the story was, or what was really going on.
A shame, it sounded like it could have been something really brilliant.

I do not know why I thought this book would work for me, but I love folk horror despite my issues with pregnancy depictions, so I thought I'd give it a try. It was definitely more focused on pregnancy and childbirth than I'd hoped, though that's a me issue (since the synopsis really does emphasize this). Having grief as the central motivation on top of that meant this was way more trauma porn and way less 'fun' horror than I prefer for ME, but I know tons of folks will love this, and I appreciate the motivation behind it as well.

In the wake of her husband’s tragic death, newspaper reporter Marshall is given a clear softball assignment: travel to the tiny town of Raeford and investigate claims that a horse has given birth to a human child. Everyone at the paper knows it’s a hoax. It’s an oddball human interest piece, at best. But upon arriving in the isolated community, Marshall can’t help but feel that something is off. The locals are intensely guarded. There are strange local traditions no one will explain, like bowls of milk placed on tombstones at the graveyard. Worst of all is the screeching sound seemingly coming from inside the walls of her hotel room. It doesn’t take long for Marshall to realize this town is keeping secrets…big ones.

I loved this book. It was full of surprising twists, and the ominous vibe throughout the book kept me at the edge of my seat. It also had a surprising feminist message, pointing to real concerns about reproductive care in rural American communities. The sense of place in this book is so strong, and I could vividly picture the setting. It paints a picture of an odd, isolated community without stereotyping or demeaning the characters living there. I would absolutely recommend this one to horror fans. I had a great time reading it!

Though this book was marketed as "horror for horse girls," I think the fact that I wasn't a horse girl BECAUSE of how terrifying I find horses also made me the perfect audience. I am always excited when I find folk horror whose cult/folklore central belief is not just fertility (and, in fact, can be used in an anti-fertility fashion). #JusticeForEmma

Thanks to NetGalley & Quirk Books for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.

I will say, I was captured in the first 30% of the book and then the author introduced a ton of different POV chapters...and it lost me. It was really compelling for me up to that point. I was also let down by the meh mystery at the end.

Ein slow-burn, gespenstischer Folk-Horror, der in einer ländlichen Stadt spielt. Als die Journalistin Carolyn Marshall den Auftrag erhält, in der Kleinstadt Raeford einem Gerücht nachzugehen, wonach ein Pferd ein menschliches Baby zur Welt gebracht haben soll, schreibt sie es ab. Doch als seltsame Vorkommnisse das dunkle Geheimnis der Stadt zu lüften beginnen, wird Marshall immer tiefer in das Geheimnis hineingezogen, das sie verbirgt.

Die Unmothers ist eine fesselnde Geschichte, die noch lange nach der letzten Seite in Erinnerung bleiben wird. Gleichermaßen weibliche Wut und eine Anspielung auf die Macht der Schwesternschaft, dies ist ein starkes Debüt und eine Autorin, die man im Auge behalten sollte.

I was really excited about this book as it sounded like it combined folk horror, small town secrets, and new horror elements (hello! a horse giving birth to a human?!) but, at the end, I was disappointed. I felt like it could have delved more into the town's mystical history but, instead, it felt like it was focused more on the inner-drama and politics of the town including drug abuse. It felt more human drama than horror. I think I'd be interested in seeing what else this author does but, for me, this book wasn't a winner.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

I didn't end up finishing this! The tone was beautifully done, but I felt like it got too wrapped up in the prose to focus on its plot. I think I'm going to give it another go when I can really focus on it.

I was captivated by the cover but stayed for the incredible story. Think The X-Files but with a feminist twist (although Scully definitely provided a strong female character) blend that with a classic monster of the week episode and who does love that? Be prepared to not be able to put this one down and have time to read. Definitely excited to see what Anderson comes out with next!

I really enjoyed this book. The cover and opening premise had be hooked and the unsettling vibes never let up. Definitely looking forward to more from this author.

A beautifully written slow-burn horror mystery, “The Unmothers" is a must-add title for many readers’ up-and-coming TBR list. Notable themes of religion, education, narcotics use disorder, and women’s rights are expertly woven into the story, both timelessly and relevantly. This novel would be a great suggestion for fans of horror, mysteries, and/or literary fiction; potentially a good fit for those looking for reads similar to "Sharp Objects" or Lone Women." Literary and/or horror mystery book clubs may choose this book if they are hoping for more detailed discussion. Overall, this novel is sure to make top lists in 2024.

hmpf. propulsive prose, very addictive that i devoured that shit up. the blend of folk horror in a small town setting was excellent, the various points of views helping cement and build that character, building up a claustrophobic feeling too. definitely reminded me a lot of “sharp objects” but unlike that, it didn’t nearly go as hard as i think it could have given the circumstances. the ending left me with a lot of questions. overall, a decent read and it has so much potential but ultimately let me down.

many thanks to the publishers and netgalley for supplying me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Absolutely stunning. Leslie J Anderson arrives on the horror scene with an atmospheric folk tale brimming with horrors both real-world and horrifyingly 'other.' With its flawed, fascinating characters and eerie, brooding mood, THE UNMOTHERS is a masterpiece in slow-dripping tension that had me desperately turning the pages long into the night.

I was eager for a folk horror like this, dark, twisted, scary. From the very first page I knew I was entering another realm, an uncanny one, but I was ready.
I loved the different characters and their point of views, clearly different from one another. We had people who were on the inside, people who had “escaped”, and then there was Marshall, the outsider, whose journey was the readers own. There are chapters where the title was enough for me to be thrilled. You will know when you read it.
I really liked the imagery, the rumours, the beliefs and the horses as a totem of the community. They made for a unique atmosphere that grasped me and would not let me go. At the beginning I was afraid the slow-burn story could become stagnate in the last third of the novel of so, but now I can say I have never been happier to be wrong: I loved the pace towards the ending, the pieces of the puzzle finally reaching their place, the climax.

Recommended for horror fans, especially for those looking for a different kind of folk horror and strong feminine characters.

In "The Unmothers," by Leslie J. Anderson, Marshall struggles with grief after her husband's death. Tasked with looking into an odd rumour in Raeford, she finds herself in a town weighed down by its troubled past and surrounded by mystery.

As Marshall looks further, she finds disturbing information about the past of the neighborhood and the mysteries that lie behind its borders. The story takes readers into a world where tradition and the need for change collide as it develops with a sense of dread.

Although the moody environment and complex characters showcase Anderson's writing talent, some readers might find themselves wishing for additional depth and clarity at various moments in the story. In spite of this, "The Unmothers" is nonetheless a gripping story that delves into issues of female autonomy, empowerment, and the long-lasting effects of generational trauma.
Overall, Anderson's novel offers a compelling blend of mystery and introspection, making it a worthwhile read for those intrigued by stories that challenge and unsettle. 3.5 stars rounded to four stars,

The Unmothers by Leslie J Anderson was a fast read. I liked the folklore in this novel. Will there be a sequel or from another perspective? Who are the Women?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a premise!! A journalist ventures to a small town to investigates rumors about a horse giving birth to a human baby.

This is slow burn, folk horror done right. Very eerie and unique--especially the monster. The imagery here will STAY WITH YOU!!

A must-read.

Marshall is recovering from the sudden death of her husband when she is involved in a bad auto accident. Afterward her editor sends her to the tiny, slightly backward town of Raeford to investigate a rumor that a horse has given birth to a human baby.

When Marshall arrives in Raeford she finds an incredible insular town where horses are king. The bodies of both a horse and a man are found in a field and Marshall knows there is something very strange going on.

The story is told from various points of view. I’m not exactly sure why the editor at any reputable publication would send someone out to do a story about this rumor, but, whatever. The story was OK, but after reading the entire book I’m still not sure I know what, exactly, was going on. It was just decent for me.