Motheater by Linda H. Codega is a mesmerizing debut novel set in the hauntingly beautiful Appalachian Mountains, blending folklore, magic, and deeply rooted themes of nature conservation and industrial conflict. Codega’s writing is poetic, vivid, and powerful, crafting a world that feels both timeless and immediate. The story centers around Bennie and Motheater—two women from vastly different times and backgrounds who are united by the wild magic of their world.

This review will 100% contain spoilers because I'm incapable of talking about a book without them. Sorry.

1 STAR

*sigh* This review is going to be as tough for me to write as this book was for me to read. I had been trying to read this book for almost two months, and usually at that point, I would DNF it, but I was determined to finish it. I mean, come on: sapphics, Appalachian magic, and sentient mountains?! Sounds like a dream, but it was so far from it. I know I sound harsh, but I had such high expectations for this book, based on the description and the beautiful cover, and I was fully let down.

Now, let me get into what didn’t work for me in the novel (I had much more nuanced notes starting from the beginning of the book, but alas, those disappeared when I reset my Kobo °(°.◜ᯅ◝°)°):

It was soooooo slow. And I'm talking MOLASSES slow—which reminds me of a simile used in the book that really ground my gears, but I'll get into that later. I honestly felt no sense of urgency that an entire Tiamut-sized mountain was going to burst from the Earth's crust because of the pacing. I really think the flashback scenes were the culprit for me; they broke the pacing too much, and I felt like things weren't progressing at the same speed as the current timeline. Something so exciting would happen to Esther, and then the chapter would end, and all the excitement fizzled because I had to read about Motheater and Bennie eating a sandwich or something.

Unnecessarily lush writing. I will say the writing shines the most in the flashback chapters. It felt 100% more genuine, and the metaphor hit in those parts. This was lost in Bennie's chapters; I felt like Codega tried too hard to make it sound modern to distinguish it from the flashbacks, and many of the lines/dialogue sounded corny.

Ex 1: "Jasper's hand in hers was warm and dry, like clay along a hearth. As he followed Esther, frowning slightly, strange emotions flitted across his face. Confusion, desire, draw."
That was still beautifully lush but painted a clear picture.

Ex 2: "Helen looked up from her coffee, slow like sap, deliberate, coordinated."
Just the juxtaposition of slow-moving dripping sap with the looking-up motion was enough to make me stop reading and say, "Huh?" The metaphor contradicted itself with the imagery, making it feel pointless. This might sound like a complete nitpick, but that's what I started to notice once I became so disinterested with the plot.

The word 'absolutely.' Don’t even get me started. I swear to god it was used like 12 times in the span of 2 chapters.

Bennie's hair and her being Black in a small white town. As a Black woman in America, I could tell the author wasn’t Black from the jump. The half-assed social commentary about living in a predominantly white town, her interactions with the cops, and the weird mentions of her hair going from seemingly standard month-old braids to microbraids (in the span of a day or two, mind you) was a red flag. The kicker was when she called her microbraids (which felt so strange that she specified them) a weave! I was completely floored. How is she gonna have a sew-in and microbraids at the same time???? LOL. The worst part was when she was taking out MICROBRAIDS in only an hour BY HERSELF. I wish I had that power. Don’t get me started on how she picked out and brushed her hair completely dry. Not a single drop of water in sight. The whole scene just pissed me off. Honestly felt more disrespectful than any of the other questionable commentary.

I had way more to say about the book but just got pissed off writing that last part. This was fully a 2.5/3 star book until I wrote that last paragraph.

Also, the ending?? Is Esther a snake or what? I hate ambiguous endings. SMH it's giving pseudo kill ur gays

"I received this novel's ARC through NetGalley (a huge thanks!) and I couldn't be be more overjoyed that I was given this opportunity because for me, "Motheater" was an extremely positive reading experience due to of a multitude of factors.

Firstly, Linda H. Codega has an amazing writing flow, which is consistent throughout the entirety of their novel. In addition, their subtle, natural humour made the read very enjoyable. Codega's language isn't overly complicated either and is even further enhanced by their beautiful writing quality and style.
Secondly, I immediately fell in love with the lively personalities of the protagonists. Both Motheater and Bennie immediately bewitched me, and they only grew closer to my heart as the novel continued. Even the secondary characters were well fleshed out and had me genuinely interested in their stories.
Furthermore, the plot confronts the reader with an awareness of the nature around us, which I deem very important. Codega describes the soul of nature in such a way that genuinely made my heart ache as I was confronted with the daunting effects of its destruction.
Fourthly, I was thrilled by the POV switches, which I had not been expecting. Motheater's chapters had me constantly on the edge of my seat despite knowing how her past would ultimately end! The switches of perspective were also very refreshing and added a lot to the story.

To conclude, when I first picked up Motheater, I had never heard of the author, Linda H. Codega, before rest assured, I will purchase any future books of theirs as I loved the book from beginning to end! 10/10 would recommend. I will purchase a physical copy as soon as the novel is released!"

Special thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

While I loved the descriptive setting, I did not really feel the romance between the two main characters. In addition. I feel like the book started to lose the plot around the 30-40% mark.

This will be a favorite for many, but unfortunately not for me.

This was a very well written book with great descriptions that can help you visualize each scene. Great concept for a book! Loved the atmosphere and the overall character development of Motheater.

I can't think of a book I've been so let down by im recent memory. I tore through the first quarter to third in a matter of hours and then took about three weeks to finish the rest because it just slowed to a glacial pace of apartment scenes with Bennie making and abandoning cups and cups of tea and going "I'm so fucked. No one has ever been as fucked as me. Wow I'm so fucked." There was genuinely a point where that phrase broke me and I just had to put it down because reading it one more time was going to cause complete mental breakdown. The ending then remembers it needs to happen at some point between all those 'fucks' and rushes up to close out with a whimper. The descriptions of the natural environment were gorgeous and there was some decent prose but wow, that middle third and most of the final one were such incredible failures that I felt like I was getting that Sad European McDonald's nothingburger.

Thank you to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC copy of this book!

What an enchanting read. Motheater feels like a promising and unique debut that had me spellbound from the start. Set in the atmospheric Appalachian mountains, the reader is immediately immersed in the gritty, wild, coal-mining town of Kiron and its somewhat haunted past.

When I first picked up Motheater, I expected some fun witchcraft. What I didn’t anticipate was the beautiful and evocative prose at the center of an important conversation about the conservation of nature, the exploitation of workers in high-risk fields, race, industry, and love. There is so much being said in this novel without detracting from the central story of Bennie and Motheater—two very different women from very different points in time who find each other in this hurricane of a story.

While I deeply enjoyed my time in the Appalachian mountains, there are a few aspects that could use some tightening up. Some of the localisms and dialect might feel a bit inaccessible to international readers, requiring more context clues, especially in the flashback passages. I also found the pacing to be somewhat uneven. Bennie’s chapters move slowly and can be quite repetitive with her inner monologue, while chapters from other characters’ points of view are more snappy, defined, and offer deeper insights into the characters themselves. The first two-thirds of the book drag a bit, whereas the last third moves at a rapid pace, with most of the present-day plot unfolding in the final chapters. As a result, Bennie’s character doesn’t carry as much weight as she could. The potential is there, but it needs a bit more polish. Additionally, some of the important messages—particularly those related to race and queerness—felt somewhat tossed in rather than integrated with intention.

If you’re expecting an in-depth romance, this might not be the book for you. The love story at the centre of this novel is nuanced and delicate, woven richly between the characters. My heart burst at the novel’s ending, but if you’re anticipating a traditional romance, be prepared for something more complex. I loved how tentatively these characters intertwine, and through Bennie’s eyes, you begin to fall in love with Motheater yourself.

Despite these quibbles, I found Motheater to be a wonderful read. The portrayal of magic is unique—wild, messy, and intangible. I truly love anything esoteric, and if you appreciate Christian imagery fused with natural witchcraft and the dirt and grime of something much older, this book will appeal to you. It has elements of gore and horror without delving too deeply into darkness, and the vaguely eldritch panic that settles over the story is utterly captivating.

I hope Codega continues their journey into authorship. This book was imaginative and gripping, and I look forward to reading much more of their work in the future.

Motheater by Linda Codega is a beautifully written queer fantasy that captivated me with its rich, atmospheric setting in the Appalachian Mountains. I loved how the author weaves a story of magic, nature, and industrial conflict, making the tension between progress and preservation feel incredibly real. Bennie and Motheater are compelling characters whose struggles and secrets kept me hooked throughout the story. I appreciated the way the book blends folklore with contemporary themes, creating a narrative that feels both timeless and relevant. Though I felt some plot points could have been more tightly connected, **Motheater** is still a gripping read that I would recommend to fans of nuanced, character-driven fantasy.

I really enjoyed this debut novel. I felt it was very well written and I loved the magic of Appalachia. Having grown up in the Appalachian mountains, this book called to me. I loved the vibes and the little quirks throughout the book. I also liked the dual timelines that gave us a good look at the 1800s Appalachia. I didn’t understand the “rules” of Motheaters magic, but I understood enough to follow along. Bennie was a doll to help this strange 150 year old witch and I loved that they had a spark. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone wanting a little witchy read.


Thank you NetGalley for the ARC copy for an honest review.

Rating 3.5 ⭐️ Motheater is an immersive story with a blend of literary fiction, horror and fantasy that initially drew me in.

However, the story felt disjointed at times, and it wasn’t until I hit the 60% mark that I found myself genuinely invested in the characters and plot.

Overall, this was a creative and atmospheric read, but it requires patience to truly appreciate. If you're a fan of slow-burn horror with a literary twist and a sprinkle of romance, this one might be worth your time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the e-ARC!

until dawn but in the woods. stop messing with nature.

thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher/author for an advanced copy of Motheater!

I absolutely loved this book! As a debut novel, I definitely went in with reservations, but ended up having a great time. As someone from the Appalachians, it was really interesting to see how the author tackled all of the history, folklore, and implemented a magic system that felt authentic to the area. I also loved how the author leaned into the dialect from the area and ultimately incorporated it into the prose in the book.

Although I rated it 5 stars, I did have a few things I could see other readers having issue with that might impact their rating of the book:

-At times, the book felt repetitive. I think a few minor edits here and there would’ve helped this, but overall I didn’t mind it.
-The romance seemed to almost be a subplot. If you go in expecting romance through the book, you’ll be a little disappointed. The romance is definitely more present in the second half of the book.
-The magic system is not clearly defined or laid out. I enjoyed this aspect of the world building and felt like it made sense for the setting/plot.

Overall, this book was a really interesting read. I’m excited to see what the author has in mind for their next book!

Genuinely unlike anything I've read before. I was struck immediately by how well Codega crafts a character, how we learned so much about Bennie on the very first page. Some of the story I found a little confusing, especially in the "Esther" timeline sections. Part of that was probably just the language, but the language is also some of what makes this book what it is.


Pick it up if you're interested in Appalachian culture, in witchcraft stories that aren't potions and glamour but instead deep nature magic, blood and earth, and in effortless queer representation.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. The book started off slow and was a bit darker than I’d thought it would be. It has magic, mystery along with snake handling as well. This story is set in the Appalachian Mountains and how people are still fighting for what they believe in.

I was somewhat disappointed by this. The premise sounded interesting, and I live in an area that feels similar to the setting, but the book itself fell a little flat for me. I think part of this was from the slow start; for as startling as the events are, I felt I should have been sucked in a bit more, or felt some sense of urgency. Overall, I am certain this will be a hit for someone, but I don't think it was for me.

A good book with a writing style that I adored, unfortunately the anticapitalism didn't went as far as I hoped, watering down the message (IMO) and I was not a fun of the romance.

Motheater is a story which is certainly rather unique. We’re immediately introduced to Bennie and Motheater as Bennie pulls Motheater’s lifeless body out of a river, only for Motheater to shortly regain consciousness and proclaim herself a witch. So that’s quite the start to a story. From there, we learn about the common interest of the two women in a mountain called Kire, which has been mined by the people of Kiron. People have mysteriously disappeared during the mining operation, including Bennie’s best friend, and well… Motheater came out of Kire. From here we embark on a journey of saving the mountain from the town, and saving the townsfolk from the mountain. Motheater slowly remembers her past as a witch in Appalachia, and works together with Bennie and Bennie’s ex-boyfriend Zach to handle the consequences of mining the mountain. In the meantime, Motheater has to come to terms with awakening in the modern world, while trying to remember who she was before so that she can regain her full powers. There is magic and love and adventure.

As cool as it all sounds, I really wanted to enjoy the story more than I did. Honestly, the pacing was just hard to get through, and the language didn’t help. While the story jumped right in with Bennie finding Motheater and almost instantly accepting that she had found a witch (a bit too quickly really), from then on the writing style was just a bit slow and even the climax was a bit of a trudge to read through instead of the epic finale it should have read as. It’s hard to put a finger on what exactly was off about it, but nothing seemed to happen quickly. That being said, it made for a nice slower read and had some ideas about the effects of mining on the environment vs the need for mining for the community which were interesting. I think I liked the idea for the novel a bit more than I enjoyed the execution, but it was still rather entertaining overall.

Well written. Darkish witchy fantasy! Different and weird - in a good way, and percfert for the upcomning spooky season.
Lots of mystery and a two story timeline that keeps you hooked.
Love det characteres development!

I truly adored this book. I think this is the first piece of Appalachian fiction that I've read, and and now I want to read more!

Bennie, a Black woman in the fictional town of Kiron in the Appalachians, is trying to find proof that White Rock Mining Company's unsafe labor practices are killing miners. When she finds a near-dead white lady in the mud of the riverbanks, she brings the stranger home and discovers her new guest isn't what she seems. Motheater is an Appalachian Neighbor who can do real magic with nature, and she doesn't remember her given name or how she ended up at the river, but she knows that she needs to stop the mining companies that are hurting Kire Mountain.

We alternate between a modern Kiron and a late 1800s one that is only starting to negotiate with the big mining companies. This book is deeply Appalachian, with its mining, small town community, and folklore. You can feel the love that Bennie, Motheater, and our author have for this region. The way that these mining companies killed its workers while stripping the land bare, leaving behind poor communities who might not have enough money to ever leave to find better opportunities. This is a beautiful story of love and revenge and fighting for those you love.

Also, this quote made me laugh: "Motheater was a centuries-old witch carved out of the mountain. She wasn't exactly available."

This book comes out on my birthday, and I think it's going to be my birthday gift to myself.

Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington/Erewhon for this ARC.

Beneathea "Bennie" Mattox has sacrificed everything to find out what is killing the miners on Kire Mountain. She finds a woman named Motheater, a witch of the Appalachian, who can't remember anything other than that she is a witch. They work to find Motheater's memories and try to change the fate of the mining town.

When I seen witch of Appalachian, in the synopsis, I was sold on this book. I was so excited to read it. I really enjoyed it. The way we get to see Motheater's past was well done. The magic and the history of the town and Kire Mountain were interesting to read. It is beautifully written, I could see the mountain setting perfectly.
I did find some of the chapters really long, which isn't my favorite thing. I also felt like there were some things that they kept going over, which I felt took away from the story a bit.

I received this as an ARC ebook from #netgalley .