An Applachian folk fantasy that will have you believing in witchcraft and the inherent majesty and power of the mountains that make up all of Appalachia.

“Benethea Mattox was not raised to be a fool. Yet here she was, fishing a skinny white lady out of a river.”

I really loved this book from the first page (the first sentence even), and it kept me engaged throughout. We meet Bennie, a forcibly retired safety officer determined to find out just what is causing miners to consistently go missing in the mountain overlooking the town she lives in. During her investigation she accidentally finds Motheater, a witch out of time without a name and powers that break one’s understanding of the world. Together they must fight together to save their town from a power that neither one expected to haunt it.

If you love Applachian folk magic, a touch of horror, and the unyielding loom of industry always on the horizon, this is the book for you. Reading this felt like it was straight out of a season of Old Gods of Appalachia, and I never could predict where this story was going. The romance progressed naturally, the conflict was diverse, and the book ended on a high note - without solving the complex issues that were explored with a simple fix that would not have felt realistic.

I’m from Pennsylvania, which is in turn both part of Appalachia and not depending on the location and your opinion of it, but I’ve lived near the Appalachian mountains almost my entire life and I could so easily see the descriptions of all the mountains present within this book. The looming and majestic presence of Kire, the stripped mountains from strip-mining, and just the presence of nature and the feel of the wildness when walking amongst those giants. This book is beautifully written, and perfectly captures the intrinsic feeling of loss felt when looking at a once-majestic mountain stripped to barely anything due to mining.

My only real issue with this book is that a main plot point is that Motheater doesn’t remember her own name, and this is the thing limiting her power. However, when we delve into the past with her memories, her name is given within these chapters. I think the impact at the end when Motheater is given her name back would have been more impactful if she is referred to as simply Motheater during these chapters, or something like E—- is used, to still have it be a mystery.

A huge thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Kensington Publishing for providing this e-ARC.

slow gorgeous litfic that's strong on the fantasy/horror but def primarily a litfic. i do think the element of strongly fusing christianity with the magic system was not my fav, but that's a personal taste thing. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

This book has some great ideas, specifically the Appalachian folk magic with a connection to Pentecostalism. However, the pacing and plot beats are a mess. There are huge swaths of the book where it feels like the plot progression is going nowhere and I suspect that the Esther chapters are to blame. It would feel like the plot was finally moving and then the next chapter would be set in the past bringing everything to a halt. I would have preferred to not have flashback chapters and instead to give Motheater more POV chapters where you impart the same information. It felt like maybe 40% of Esther’s chapters were actually necessary for the plot. I think that more Motheater chapters could also help with how clunky the romance felt. We mostly got Bennie’s perspective on their romance so it felt quite one sided. Finally, I wish that there was more delving into the Pentecostal stuff. I find religions that have a connection to folk magic/folk traditions so interesting but all we really got were like two scenes in the church. I just wanted more because I thought it was the most interesting aspect of the story.

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Many novels have been published about witchcraft in recent times, but this one takes a very different (in a good way) spin on the topic compared to any other novel that I've read in the past couple of years that all deal with the same witchcraft-related themes of independence, self-actualization, powerlessness, privilege, honor, sacrifice, and greed. I'd almost call this an eco-horror - or at least climate fiction - with an ending that feels realistic and very true to the story progression (even if/when you wish it could've been different).

Motheater is an Appalachian witch out of time, stuck between her community and nature. Can we survive without taking from nature? How much is too much? Where is the balance? And whose side should she take?

A story told in two timelines, in present time and a hundred and fifty years into the past, with a cast of queer characters. The romance itself is pretty slowburn, and I wouldn't really call this a romance book, but the love is still very much important to the endgame. Romantic love, friendship love, love for community, love for nature, and all of that.

The present-time POV character is a Black woman who is investigating mysterious mining deaths on the mountain. I loved that Bennie and Zach are exes who are both bisexual - good for them.

Only four stars because I couldn't immerse myself fully, the Bible verses and Appalachian accents/slangs was pretty far from my experience. Somebody who is closer to the culture might enjoy this more, for me the Bible verses are an automatic turn-off. Still, I enjoyed the rest of the book.

Motheater by Linda H. Codega is a richly atmospheric tale set against the haunting backdrop of the Appalachian Mountains, weaving together themes of magic, nature, and community. The story follows Bennie, a determined young woman investigating the deadly consequences of a mining corporation’s operations, and Motheater, an enigmatic witch with a mysterious past tied to the mountain’s history. The narrative explores their reluctant partnership as they navigate both their personal traumas and the larger forces threatening their world.

The novel excels in its vivid portrayal of the Appalachian setting, bringing to life the tension between nature and industry with a lyrical and evocative prose style. The connection between magic and the environment is a compelling thread, as is the exploration of themes like sacrifice, resilience, and the weight of history. The relationship between Bennie and Motheater is nuanced, blending mutual suspicion and trust in ways that feel authentic, though the romantic subplot feels a bit underdeveloped and abrupt.

Despite its strengths, the story struggles with uneven pacing, particularly in the middle sections, which can feel meandering. The dual timelines and dense world-building sometimes make the narrative hard to follow, requiring careful attention to piece together the unfolding mystery. While the prose is beautiful, the execution occasionally falters, with moments that could have benefited from tighter writing or more meticulous editing.

Overall, Motheater is an ambitious and atmospheric novel that shines in its setting and themes but stumbles in pacing and coherence. It’s a thoughtful exploration of magic, identity, and community, earning a solid 3/5 stars for its unique premise and evocative storytelling.

Sometimes, you get into a book and you’re hooked right from the very first page. Motheater is not one of those books. Admittedly, this was a very rough start for me—questionable character behaviour, exposition heavy dialogue, murky world building—but there was just something about the writing that made me want to stick it out. Thankfully, my instincts were correct. While the first 20 or so pages are middling, at best, the narrative does very quickly start to catch up with itself, and eventually blooms into a dynamic tale of magic, corruption, and mystery.
I think my main problem with the beginning of the novel was Bennie’s illogical trust and acceptance. When confronted with Motheater’s sudden appearance and supernatural abilities her immediate reaction isn’t one of fear (despite Motheater attacking her), but rather a very contrived approach of relaying the horrors of the mining corporation she’s investigating. Yes, later both women come to an understanding, but it is this initial motivation that feels so inorganic. It was almost enough to put me off the rest of the book.
However, I did continue, and once over that first hump of the protagonists’ introduction to one another I did feel that the pacing and flow of the plot took on a decidedly better quality. Things developed slowly, and the reader was given more information regarding the mountain, the mining corporation, and Motheater’s history until the alternate timelines converged and the conclusion struck.
Overall, because the actual meat of the narrative was so enjoyable, I would still recommend this, but that recommendation does come with the warning that the first two chapters are not so great. In my opinion, if you love media that explores nature versus industry, magical realism, or sapphic somewhat-toxic relationships you might like this.

i found this very slow and dull and I wasn’t drawn to the characters at all. The hint of a mystery to be uncovered was interesting but unfortunately not enough to keep me hooked.

i have decided to dnf this book for now. it could be the slump talking, but this was not retaining my interest and although the premise was intriguing, getting over 20% through was not capturing my interest enough at the moment and i would like to appreciate this book in the right mindset. this is nothing against the book, as it has the atmospheric vibes, good writing, and two characters whose relationship i am invested in exploring further. i would still recommend for those looking for a darker, sapphic magical realism!

I love the history tied behind this book. I find the historical aspect of the fantasy world really interesting, so this was a pleasure to read.

Moth Eater by Linda H Codega, when the book starts, we meet Benny, who recently lost her job and even more recently broke up with her boyfriend and move to a one room bed sit in Appalachia, West Virginia. ever since the death of her best friend, she trolls the rivers looking for the dead bodies that the big commercial coal mining company on top of the mountain throws away and forgets about and she fears this may also include her friend, but on this day, what she drags out the river is beyond description. it’s a woman dressed in old Timey clothes, no shoes and long gray hair and Benny first believes she’s from one of the mountain tribes who lives in isolated existence but soon learns she’s from somewhere far different. She’s a witch in her name is Moth Eater, originally she was a teenage girl in the late 1900s and the daughter of a Baptist snake handler preacher. at first she doesn’t speak, but once she does start speaking, that’s not to say Ben understands what she saying. This book was OK. I at first really loved the overall voice of the story. I was all into the story I got that boat. Women wanted the same outcome but for different reasons but once they started going into the mountain and the whole thing with the church in the Bluejay, I was just lost it just totally wouldn’t be beyond my comprehension, and although I power through, I know throughout the book that we’re leading up to them falling for each other, but really, despite I myself thought Moth Eater definitely seemed cool and like someone who caught on quick I did not at all see her as romantic material. I almost DNF the book that as I hate to do that, I finished it and still can only say it was all right, as I said, I loved the overall voice of the story the characters and even what the story was telling I think it was more of the execution. I will say I would still definitely read another book by the author as I liked the stories voice as I said very much and may try one of her other books but as for this one, I didn’t like it so much. #NetGalley, #KensingtonBooks, #MothEater,#LindaHCodega,

This was quite a good book! I love the beautiful settings of the Appalachian mountains & of course.. ✨ witches. At times this was hard to follow and felt like some of the scenes just flipped back and forth though the writing was extremely gorgeous.

Thank you NetGalley & Kensington Publishing | Erewhon Books for the ARC.

I really, really thought that this novel was going to be more of a fantasy than just literary fiction with fantasy elements, and I think that's why I'm somewhat disappointed with it overall. Motheater, on paper, really seems like it would check all my boxes! The setting is phenomenal and the premise of witches had me hooked. I just couldn't find myself to personally care about the characters or the conflict or anything else, really, about this story. Which, again, is such a shame because I had been hoping for a 4 or 5 star read from this one!

Thank you to the publisher & Netgalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Holy holy holy Lord Almighty this book was a wild ride. Every word on every page was so good and special.
Motheater is a tale of a young black woman in Appalachia who is looking into a dangerous mining operation. She stumbled across the discarded body of a witch and they tumble into a mystery of the witches past and Appalachia's future.
This book had me riveted, I couldn't shut up about it. I couldn't stop thinking about it. The ending near had me in tears. This was my most anticipated read of 2024 when I received the ARC, I am so, so blessed to have been able to love these characters. Thank you, Lin Codega, your mind is brilliant.

This dense, rumbling novel, blending Appalachian folktale, eco-horror, and literary fiction, is a testament to community and sacrifice. It is a love letter to a people and place both neglected and exploited, without shying away from the thorny complications and rough edges such love entails.

The characters were richly detailed and nuanced, and I was able to really feel their presence. This is especially true for the two central characters but also for many of the ancillary characters. The overall story was compelling, and I appreciated the moving back and forth between past and present, with the mystery doled out and revealed in good measure. The exploration of magic and how it relates to the environment, the sacrifice that magic entails and what one might need to give up in order to serve a community they love, even when spurned in response, was beautifully done, a rich vein of thought and contemplation. The writing itself was strong and steadfast, and it felt like it paralleled the depth of the story, the despair, tenacity, determination, and hope that the characters carry with them. The world was really-well realized, through the characters and their aspirations as well as the writing itself, and it created a great atmosphere that really carried the story.

The pacing was a little slow. The moving between past and present across chapters helped keep things moving, but it needed a little more. I don’t know if this means maybe trimming the page count or if there just needed to be something, especially through the middle section, which gave a little forward momentum. I was never bored, it wasn’t a matter of being disinterested, I was invested in the characters and story the whole time, but there were sections that felt a little sluggish. Additionally, the romantic subplot at the end felt like an unnecessary addition, and indeed felt like something that came out of left field instead of being organic and deliberate. Given the state of the characters at that point, where they had come from and what they were facing, it was hard to believe those characters would fall into that at that time. It didn’t detract from the story, I suppose, but it felt out of place and was a little distracting, and it didn’t feel like it added much.

Both of those are small quibbles, though. The story feels like it draws on a deep well of love for a place and its history, and that is shaped by an evocative and lush language and an exciting type of faith & magic. This story feels like it comes from the earth, a story of intimacy, sacrifice, and devotion. It is definitely a fun read, and if you are able to go along with a little bit of languid pacing through the second act then there is a lot of joy and meaning to mine in this tale.

(Rounded up from 3.5)

I want to thank the author, the publisher Kensington Publishing | Erewhon Books, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Linda H. Codega’s Motheater is a beautiful, atmospheric story about doing what you believe is right, about a woman’s rage, and most of all, about nature. The writing flows like honey—sweet, sticky, and rich—drawing you in with its lyrical prose. I took my time reading it, savoring each page and pausing highlight numerous passages, even entire paragraphs, that felt too powerful to forget.

The setting is vivid and haunting, with an eerie magic that hums in the background. Codega makes you feel as though you’re right there, wandering through the Appalachian mountains. It feels alive, as though the landscape itself is a character, watching, waiting. Which, well.
The dual timeline adds a historic, familiar feeling, though the frequent shifts in perspectives and timelines could sometimes feel a little confusing. Still, it adds depth to the story, showing how the past and present are always connected.

Motheater also carries the weight of a woman's anger—a force that burns fiercely throughout the story. And yet, it is nature, more than anything, that feels like the heart of this book: wild, ancient, and untamable.

The characters felt real and relatable, as though I’ve known them personally. Their relationships—whether romantic, familial, or friendships—are fleshed out and deeply woven together, giving the story emotional weight. I especially appreciated that the romance was a quiet subplot, slow-burning and never overpowering the larger themes.

At its core, Motheater explores connection: the kind that lasts far beyond a single lifetime. Its epic scope and tragic moments make it both heart-wrenching and bittersweet, particularly by the end. While I would have loved to know more about the magic and its lore, the story’s power lies in its emotion and its atmosphere.

All in all, Motheater is a lovely book that I enjoyed immensely. It lingers long after the last page, a reminder of nature’s quiet strength and the bonds we can never break.

I think this could be a great book with more editing to streamline the story, but I found it a bit of a slog and slightly repetitive in places. The storyline is original and has a potentially massive scope if there was more depth to the character development and the magic systems, but half of it was just Bennie being thirsty as hell and not much time spent fleshing her out as a person beyond her relationships and her fight against the mining company. I think the ending was solid and satisfying, and the prose was very pretty. I did question why an author that isn’t Black chose to write a Black protagonist and I also thought much more time was spent on Motheater (the white protagonist) but I think it was handled respectfully.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC!

The story concept was good, with a witch sleeping in a mountain, and the environmental themes. But I couldn't relate to the execution. It started right into the action with no context or clues as to character motivations, and this lack of clarity about character continued throughout. The plot had potential, but fell foul of lazy shortcuts, for example, a character with convenient amnesia who remembered new information whenever the plot required.

This book is an ambitious project, steeped in Appalachian culture. However, the book ends up falling flat with a lackluster romance and a meandering plot.

The positives:
The Appalachian culture and history put into the story make for a very interesting backdrop. This gives the book a personal feeling that carries it through some of the negatives. It offers a very empathetic lens on the past and current state of Appalachia, which is rare to see in media. The research put into the story also comes through in the plot. It makes the events of the story feel more real and grounded, or as grounded as you can get for a fantasy novel.

The negatives:
The central romance in this book gets a lot of time, which is why it's unfortunate that it feels so unconvincing and stiff. The main character especially spends of lot of time stewing over feelings, but every look into her headspace feels repetitive and took me away from the plot.
The only other gripe I have is that the book is really unclear on what the rules for its magic are. It feels like it's just whatever the plot needs in that moment, which kind of takes away from the stakes.

I would definitely give this book a read if you're from Appalachia, it's filled with great cultural references. I would also give it a try if this type of contemporary fantasy is a favorite for you.

Beautifully written. The atmosphere and vibes are immaculate. The pacing, however, could have used a lot of work, and it's definitely not as much of a fantasy as expected, more of a litfic with witchy/old timey magic vibes. I did enjoy this though, and will recommend it to friends who are more vibes vs plot readers.