Appalachian novels are some of my favorite reads. I love the gritty truth that the setting provides. There is a little bit of magic and mystery that just comes naturally when you’re working with a location as old as it is. Overall the story was poignant and the characters were interesting and relatable.

I read this book fairly quickly it is a short novel, and it read easy, but it is not my usual genre and I struggled with it for that reason.

Thank you NetGalley, Jeffery Dunn and publishing team for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This story was a nice short story which I was able to get through in one sitting. I appreciated the development through the story, the world building was good but I struggled with the dialogue, addressing the readers, character development and feeling immersed in the book. I definitely have a few friends who would love this book a lot and have recommended it to them. Overall, it was a good quick read showing you a true love for a small town vibe.

Reviewed on goodreads

Weaving Shadows is a novel that starts strong but struggles to maintain its momentum. Its innovative structure and powerful early chapters showcase the author's talent for capturing the harsh realities of life. Yet, as the narrative unfolds, it loses some of its initial impact, leaving readers with a sense of what could have been. Despite its shortcomings, the novel offers a thought-provoking exploration of the lives of miners and mill workers, making it a worthwhile read for those interested in experimental literature and stories of resilience and hardship.

Thank you for the cance to read this ARC for my honest review.

This book was just not for me. I don't know if it's just not my vibe/mood at this moment, but I could barely make it through.

My review will not be posted online :)

this book invites readers on a journey through the rugged landscapes of the Appalachian region, where love, loss, and redemption intertwine. Dunn's evocative prose paints a vivid picture of a community in transition, where the echoes of industrial tragedy mingle with the promise of renewal. As the protagonist navigates the revitalized Hotel Wildcat and grapples with his own past, Dunn skillfully captures the resilience of the human spirit amidst adversity. Through themes of friendship, nature, and transformation, "Wildcat" offers a poignant exploration of life in Appalachia.

The unnamed narrator is a retired English teacher who returns to Wildcat, a place he lived for a very memorable year during his young adult life. He resides in the former Hotel Wildcat which has been redone and reopened as part of a collective. A former mine site is now a mushroom farm. An old dairy is up and running and a mill is creating artisanal delights, all for the benefit of the small group that make their home there. They live, eat and work communally.

But Wildcat has a dark history, as do many coal mining towns, and the narrator has secrets of his own. He is hoping to connect with Carolyn, his lost love of that long ago time, but would she be interested in him now?

This was an interesting story, not quite sure where it is set. It sounds like West Virginia but one of the characters refers to West Virginia as an “other” place, so perhaps eastern Kentucky or western Virginia.

I felt the “romance” of the subtitle was more with Wildcat than Carolyn. I also thought the narrator was a bit too sure of himself in returning to Wildcat. There were people there who had every reason to dislike him, and maybe all that fades over the years, but maybe not. I also wondered if the narrator was paying his way in funds, because he didn’t seem to contribute much to the common good, since he’s writing, I guess.

Anyway, nice, dreamy feel. Appropriate length.

I’m going to say this book wasn’t for me but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t good. I think the vibe this book gives as you read it or at least what I was picturing in my minds eye might have had something to do with my overall experience but none the less it was a good story.

Thank you NetGalley for the ebook in exchange for an honest review.

I liked how this was divided, it made it easy to read and I finished it in one go. I liked the writing style for everything descriptive, the setting, the stories told and the way the author addresses the reader a couple of times. But the dialogues, unfortunately, I thought were a bit weak. Still, the story was beautiful, and immersive. Bit of mystical with a bit of reality, this was unexpected but lovely.