After reading the description of this book I was rather excited. Unfortunately, it was a let down for me. I am not a fan of slow burn books and this book is VERY slow. I also do not believe this book fits the advertised genre.
I am stuck between giving this a 2 or 3 star review. This story has a lot of potential and advertised to the correct audience it would most likely do better. I found this book easy to put down and hard to pick back up. I had to force myself to read it.

DNF at 52% (I would prefer to not rate the book since I dnf'ed it but at las I'm obligated to)

I'm sorry I really tried my best with this one, but I just couldn't get into it. I have been feeling myself get into a slump this pass days and picking this book just feels like a chore, a really boring one.

The beginning started very strong, introducing our main characters, dropping us right into the middle of the situation and upping the intrigue however, the pacing is so awfully slow.

This book feels a lot more like literally fiction than fantasy, which I wouldn't mind if I actually cared about our characters and the development of their dynamics, sadly I do not.

The relationship between Bennie and Motheather also just feels weird, the dynamic is a little bit icky with Motheather just feeling like this otherworldly essence.

The premise sounded really good, however I am not having a good time and I really do not want to force myself to read something that I'm actively not picking up.

Loved this - never really read anything set in Appalachia but this was incredible. Can’t wait to see what the author does next!

I have to admit I didn't love this one as much as I thought I would based on the description. Appalachian horror with Sapphic characters? Sounded exactly like my kind of book! Unfortunately I found Motheater just so painfully slow in places that it became a chore to get through. The book started very promising, introducing us to the setting, characters, and horror elements but then it tapered off with various time periods and rambling storylines. I agree with other reviewers that this read much more like literary fiction than horror or fantasy. Literary fiction is not usually my personal cup of tea because I find them to be long-winded, too full of metaphors, and boring. And I think that's my main issue with Motheater. It's beautifully written and has an engaging concept but becomes mired in the slow pace.

I liked Bennie and Ester as characters and Motheater was interesting more as a concept than a true character. But, despite the Sapphic themes being a selling point for me I didn't really buy the romance subplot either. I didn't really connect with them or see their chemistry, just Bennie's fascination with this ancient witch.

So I'd caution anyone like me, looking for a fun Appalachian horror story. Motheater is not that. It will certainly appeal to some litfic readers, but that is not me.

“Protect what you love”
4.5/5 stars

This is a complex story, beautiful and haunting, witchy, queer, and unique. Weaving Appalachian folklore with heartache, and grief. Blending the turmoil and anger of watching what industry can do to our world, and the battle of trying to a balance between protecting our people and protecting our environment. How anger can hurt and love can heal. I absolutely loved the unique experience I felt while reading this story, the way it tugged at my own heart, the author slowly tore my heart to shreds and I’m okay with that, the end feeling was one of rawness and hope. This is not a story for everyone, I can immediately see that. However if you love a blend of earth magic, powerful creatures, the pulse of life in a mountain, the joy of finding great love no matter how much time you may have. If you want a story that is going to make you feel, that will permeate your being like the very veins of coal running through this titan of a mountain in the authors story. I recommend this one. My only real issue was in some of the pacing, but I felt that worked itself out 20% or so into the book and then I was absolutely hooked.

*I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the free book.*

I really enjoyed "Motheater", this queer story about an Appalachian witch fighting for nature and against its destruction. I liked how issues of gender and race were included, but the novel could have explored this in more depth - especially through the generations. The magic system was wonderful but also felt a bit wonky, as was the world-building. But I really enjoyed this book!

4 stars

This book is simply extraordinary. The story and world-building are on a whole new level. The characters are so well-developed, making every interaction feel authentic, and the plot is both immersive and compelling.

With mystery, magic, and stunning scenery, it has everything you could want. It’s a captivating journey that grabs hold of you from the start and doesn’t let go. Although I felt as if something was missing—I can’t quite put my finger on it. However it was still an amazing read.

while this has some beautiful writing and an interesting atmosphere of appalachian/southern folk horror in a litfic story, i was disappointed by this personally.

the pacing was quite slow throughout, which made this a slog to read at times. the main characters of motheater and bennie are quite interesting, but i didn't really buy the romance at the end. bennie was definitely mesmerized by this ethereal witch and we had the benefit of more of her POV, but for me motheater had too much going on to really think about romance and her POV was in the past.

this also read more like litfic with folk horror and fantasy elements rather than a fantasy book. which is fine, but i think litfic readers who are feeling like some fantasy/horror will be more satisfied with this than fantasy readers.

i didn't care for the amount of christian scripture and fusion of religion with magic, just personal taste.

ultimately the most disappointing part was that while i loved the female rage and themes of corporate capitalism destroying the environment and nature fighting back, we don't really get that triumphant victory of nature > capitalism ending that would've been v satisfying.

an honest arc review ♡

Sapphic Appalachian horror-adjacent book that says fuck the capitalist mining corporations, sign me right on up! And this ended up being such a phenomenal book. It was slow and quiet in some ways, and I wouldn’t necessarily consider it horror, but as the world is developed and the characters’ nuances are developed, this became hard to put down. I don’t want to give too much away, but Bennie and Motheater are such complex women trying to do their best when forces outside them are making things harder, and the way they work towards their goals, it’s really such an excellent book. I look forward to more stories from Linda H. Codega and definitely would not mind seeing what happens next for Bennie!

Motheater has some great writing, with likeable characters and a really interesting concept, however, the pacing was off at times and I felt the romance plot was not necessary or poorly executed at times.

PROS:
- setting of the Appalachian mountains, well executed
- likeable characters that had depth and individual personalities (sometimes I wanted more about motheater)
- beautiful writing that made the book very atmospheric at times
- witches! I love witches, especially the nature based pagan style!

CONS
- pacing; particularly in the second half of the point, I wanted it to build to the crescendo with more intensity, whereas I felt that it was often interrupted with the romance subplots
- romance subplot; the strengths of this book is when they are doing cool nature witchy stuff and you are learning the lore and history, I thought that it was strong enough on its own without the romance. Don’t get me wrong, I love some queer romance, but I felt that that storyline took away from the really great parts about this book
- doing too much; a broad and vague statement I know, but I felt that this book tried to do too much and that left some parts feeling either underdeveloped or just thrown in there.

Overall I think it’s a solid debut and look forward to more from this author as their writing style becomes more refined.

Thanks NETGALLEY for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed the strong female characters and it was a unique storyline. The story felt very repetitive and it moved pretty slowly overall. I didn't feel as invested in Esther's timeline, and found myself struggling to read those parts of the story. I enjoyed the setting of the book and reading a story with witchy vibes. I can see how this will work for people but I struggled reading it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for approving me for this eARC!

What I did enjoy about this book was the emphasis on strong female protagonists. Bennie and Motheater (Esther) both were extremely headstrong and stood by their convictions which I really appreciated. They did not feel the need to change their being for others around them even when they were not well received. I think too often we read about characters who feel the need to adapt to others for love or friendship while these two loved each other simply for who they were. I also found the plot to be incredibly unique. It is clear that Codega did their research about the landscape, historical implications, and language, this novel seemed quite authentic. The setting was also very magical and immersive which I appreciated. I felt like I was along for the ride. Jasper and Esther were my standout characters favourites.

My criticisms of this novel are not many but they are aspects that play a bigger role in my ratings usually. The grammar and spelling. At first I thought this was just a character and language choice, but as I kept reading, even the plot development paragraphs were littered with errors. This book needs another thorough glance by the editor please and thank you. I also felt the romantic subplot was unnecessary. Their relationship would have been just as effective without any sexual tension. I tend to feel that way about books in general. I think unless the romance seems organic, I just do not care for it. I did appreciate Bennie's character growth which I think did depend on her coming to terms with aspects of her sexuality however, I feel the relationship could have been left as an unspoken yearning and would have been just as impactful.

Overall, 3.5/5 stars for me and I would look forward to reading more from this author!

dnf @ 44% i really tried to make it further but no dice.

after a month of attempting to read this, i think i'm going to call it quits. picking this up ended up feeling like a chore, and it honestly has put me in a bit of a slump so we aren't finishing this one unfortunately! i rly wanted to love this as the premise, the cover, and the setting were all so intriguing but upon reading it, the characters and the story just weren't compelling to me.

the pacing was glacial, and the characters felt like they were reacting to the same things/events over and over again. i also didn't enjoy the swapping around between past and present as it only contributed to my issues with the pacing. i feel like i would've enjoyed the sequencing more if we had started in the past with esther and then cut to part two in the modern setting when motheater was found. the prose used in descriptors was lush and lent to the atmosphere of the book well, but besides that, i wasn't the biggest fan of the dialogue or the inner monologues of the characters. the modernisms in bennie's are a major culprit of this and they sort of take away from the eerie air of the mountains. motheater and bennie also hardly talk to each other? most of their interactions are motheater performing some variety of odd-witchy-enigma-magic and bennie reacting to it in the same manner every time. motheater felt more like a vengeful nature entity rather than a person, and bennie just felt,,, flat.

something about this just felt stagnant, and i just found myself less and less willing to pick this up again, which is a shame as i was super excited for my first arc.

thank you to NetGalley and Kengsington publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to Netgalley for the Arc.

Mothereater was a complicated read, as I enjoyed Codega's writing style and the rich world of witches that had been crafted. However, I think that I just might not have been the target audience for this novel, as I struggled to finish it due to the timeline jumping; I would have much preferred for the two POVs to exist as two segments of the novel, with the first half telling Mothereater's backstory and the second half telling Bonnie's story once she finds Mothereater.
With the right audience, "Mothereater" is a witchy novel about nature vs. industry. It follows two women who are connected through time and an accidental meeting by the river.

Even the fiercest rage can’t stand against the warmest love.

This witch hike up a haunted mountain was just everything I needed as a cleanser. The slow-unraveling mystery was such an amazing read and just kept me on my toes every single moment possible. The lore as we’re following two different timelines was very interesting and easy to follow.

Plot-wise, a complete 10/10. There was so much at stake and a lot to find out, so everything was just filled with suspense in its own way. You can really distinguish the differences between the two timelines and how much everything is interconnected, which makes for a very fun read.

Bennie is a headstrong woman who only wants to save everyone from unjust and mysterious deaths. She lost everything she knew and her life has spiraled. But even then, she didn’t give up hope.

The Motheater was strong in every time. Her faith and her beliefs made her a powerful force not to be reckoned with. She cares fiercely and loves harder, and will do anything for who she loves. Even if it means losing herself.

Truly, a wonderful read. Thank you to NetGalley for giving me this copy, everything I’ve said were my honest thoughts!

In this hauntingly beautiful queer fantasy set in the Appalachian Mountains, Bennie Mattox, the last witch of the Ridge, finds herself caught between two worlds—nature and industry. The vivid, eerie landscape, full of local language and folklore, pulls you right into Bennie’s life, where wild-earth magic and the constant presence of the mountain feel alive. After the heartbreaking loss of her best friend in a coal mine, Bennie gives up everything—her job, her relationships, and even her reputation—to seek the truth behind the miners’ deaths.

Things take a strange and intriguing turn when she rescues a mysterious woman, Motheater, who has no memory but insists she’s a witch from Appalachia’s past. The connection between them, though subtle at first, builds into something powerful and magnetic, and soon I found myself rooting for these two fierce, complex women as they face impossible choices together.

Their shared determination could change the future of their town, and while the romance subplot felt a little rushed, it still added a heartfelt layer that kept me hooked. The ending left me completely shattered—in the best way. This is one of the most original and compelling books I’ve ever read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the chance to experience this unforgettable story.

A quite captivating read! Was it my favourite? Not really. But Codega really nailed this witchy little book.
I am a little salty at the ending (though that's not necessarily a bad thing). I spent a lot of time reading this book because I couldn't really get through it, but it did get me very attached to the characters.
The worldbuilding and magic is amazing and it has a very strong plot. It went on too long for my liking, but it's still a beautiful book.

This is what real magic looks like. Not the wicca-kind with shiny rocks and pretty cards. This magic is blood and bones and darkness. And I love it.

In "Motheater" by Linda H. Codega, we are introduced to Bennie, who in her search for both justice and revenge on the local mining companies finds the unconscious body of a witch. Motheater has forgotten who she is, but her purpose in this world is clear; protect the Appalachian mountains.

As the story goes on, we get several POVs (or do we?) and through the eyes of the main characters, we are thrown right into the battle between nature and industrialism. "Motheater" takes us for a ride in a thought-provoking, emotional roller coaster, and offers constant reminders that it's not witchcraft that makes our world dark. The use of magic in this book is going to be a punch in the face of certain religious groups who once thought it acceptable (and still do in some areas) to eliminate women solely based on their skills and knowledge, and I am all here for it.

If you are a fan of powerful magic, environmentalism, characters who only get more complex with time, and a slow-burn romance that is intense, but doesn't take over the entire story - then this book is for you.

* * *
Huge thank you to Kensington Publishing for making this book available through NetGalley.
All opinions are my own.

Motheater by Linda H. Codega weaves together the stories of Bennie, a recent employee of a mining company in modern-day Appalachia, and Motheater, a nature witch from the late 1800s.
What I liked:
• The rich atmosphere and authentic sense of Appalachia.
• The tension between progress and tradition, highlighting unintended consequences.
• The region’s folklore and mythology—the witchiness
• The theme of corporate greed vs. community needs
• The awe for the power of nature in both big and small ways
What I didn’t like:
• The pacing felt uneven, with some sections dragging. Stronger editing to reduce repetition could improve this.
• One of the human villains was such a caricature with no depth that I expected him to twirl his mustache and tie someone to the railroad tracks.
• The conclusion regarding the mining corporation’s responsibility felt unconvincing.

Overall, I really enjoyed the ideas and mood of this novel. Motheater was a particularly strong and layered character, with her sections being the most engaging. The final chapters were exciting and provided a satisfying conclusion for the main characters.
Thank you to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the digital ARC.

I was very excited for this book. The cover is gorgeous. Queer fantasy! Sign me up.The blurb had me so ready to read however it’s been over a month and I’m still at 55% and have decided to DNF.
I will say I very much enjoyed the setting of this book. Set in the Appalachian mountains of Virginia the whole vibe was very witchy and I loved it. I did however really struggle with the story line and the characters. The writing style just wasn’t for me. I was on the struggle bus the whole time trying to stay on track and find some connection with the characters but I just couldn’t.
I do however think this will be a huge hit with a lot of people.