Rounded up from 2.5

Listen, I really REALLY wanted to like this book. Magic, Sapphics, and discussions of the environment, sign me up! But this book really just feel short for me unfortunately.

I'll start with the things I did like, the writing is gorgeous, it's incredibly descriptive and really transporting, the scenes were incredibly vivid in my head and I had quite a good understanding of the characters.

This book has a great premise but it just seems a little bit confused, for such a long book our main characters just immediately deeply trust each other despite having just met. The main character also seems to come to the same epiphanies over, and over, and over to the point that it feels like whole scenes of this book could be taken out. On top of that there is supposed to be this kind of mystery as to who our love interest is but, due to the dual timelines we get given this information in the I think fourth chapter, I'm not sure if it's supposed to be some kind of dramatic irony or what, but it just didn't really work. In the same kind of vein, the commentary of mining and it's effects on the environment, which are presented as the themes of this book at the very start are pretty surface level.

My last thing is definitely a little bit more personal, but there is quite a strong theme of religion, specifically Christianity, to the point that one of the characters repeatedly quotes passages from the bible, just in case you forgot how religious they are.

I loved the idea of this book, but unfortunately it's execution just wasn't it for me.

“[Esther] was the Neighbour of Kiron, but even among Neighbors, she was an oddity.”

Kiron is a place in the Appalachian Mountains, where Kire Mountain is located. It's always been a mining and coal-digging town and was once protected by its very own witch, or neighbour. Bennie is one of the narrative voices. She's a young black woman who's actually looking to find out how and why people disappear in Kire and why they die. One of her closest friends is among those who have disappeared. But on one of her tours along the mountain, she discovers something truly unexpected: Motheater. A skinny, white woman who is more wild creature than human woman and who is surrounded by a strange magic and, above all, moths. And as if that wasn't gruelling enough, Kire comes to life and threatens to destroy Kiron.

To give you a rough idea of the plot, it goes something like this. The story is told from different points of view in each chapter, with Bennie, Motheater and Esther all sharing their experiences. The latter is Motheater before she was trapped in a mountain for 150 years and brought back to the surface by accident. The story progresses at a leisurely pace, which I found particularly lovely in many instances. This allows us to really feel and follow the emotional development of the characters. I especially liked Esther. Her motivation is hinted at from time to time, but it wasn't entirely clear to me for a long time. Is she trying to protect Kire or Kiron, or is she just trying to increase her own power?
I also loved the fact that Bennie's ex-boyfriend Zach is given space and becomes an important part of this crazy Found Family at the end!

I particularly enjoyed the tender rapprochement between Esther and Bennie, which comes to a head at the end. I read the book because it was teased as queer.

SPOILER! Those who have difficulties with tragic queer love stories should enjoy the story with caution. The ending has that bittersweet 'The Last Unicorn' touch.

I didn't see the developments at the end coming, to be honest. I also had hoped that a different solution would be found. Even so, the story was stunningly beautiful in its portrayal of nature and magic! I found Esther's connection with nature, her verses and the mystical passages in particular really compelling. It's a dark and gritty story with a touch of gore and all the intricacies I'd like to see in a witch story. Linda H. Codega has really brought Appalachian and hedge witches to life. I also enjoyed reading about Bennie's perspective, particularly her experiences as a black woman and the challenges she faced due to racism in the community. This kind of diversity fits into the story really well, in a way that's both emotional and tangible. Overall, Linda H. Codega has created well-rounded characters with rich backstories, which adds depth to the story.

I do have one or two minor issues to flag up. I thought it was a bit long in places and the twists and turns were drawn out a bit too much for my taste. I don't know if it was my device, but I read the story on my Kindle and there were quite a few word twists, forgotten words and minor spelling mistakes. That did affect my reading flow a little. Otherwise, I really enjoyed the story about Kire, his Titan and Kiron.

Incredibly atmospheric and wonderfully witchy. Very evocative text and characters that were incredibly compelling. “Motheater” lives up to the hype and will make a mark on the 2025 publication slate.

the queer dark appalachian novel of my dreams. Read Motheater if you loved the Raven Cycle and haven't found something with that energy since.

"In this nuanced queer fantasy set amid the Appalachian Mountains in Virginia, the last witch of the Ridge must choose sides in a clash between industry and nature.

After her best friend dies in a coal mine, Benethea "Bennie" Mattox sacrifices her job, her relationship, and her reputation to uncover what's killing miners on Kire Mountain. When she finds a half-drowned white woman in a dirty mine slough, Bennie takes her in because it's right - but also because she hopes this odd, magnetic stranger can lead her to the proof she needs.

Instead, she brings more questions. The woman called Motheater can't remember her true name, or how she ended up inside the mountain. She knows only that she's a witch of Appalachia, bound to tor and holler, possum and snake, with power in her hands and Scripture on her tongue. But the mystery of her fate, her doomed quest to keep industry off Kire Mountain, and the promises she bent and broke have followed her a century and half into the future. And now, the choices Motheater and Bennie make together could change the face of the town itself."

I mean, an amnesiac claiming to be called Motheater is a must buy in my book.

While I enjoyed the concept as well as the overall plot and theme of the story.
The pacing was too short for my taste.

I found pace of the story too slow for my taste. On top off that I feel this book is misrepresenting its contents. The fantasy elements are very light, and the queer elements aren't a major focus either. The horror elements as well were pretty understated. The quality of the writing is good, if I had clearer expectations of what this book really is I would have enjoyed it a lot more and been in the right frame of mind.

I did not particularly like this like I though I might have, which is a disappointment. Motheater is a a sapphic, witchy Appalachian fantasy with horror elements, which are all things that sound appealing to me. But this was just not as good as I expected, but I believe I just set my standards a little too high, considering that this is a debut novel. There were things about this book that were genuinely good, like the characters and the atmosphere, but I just was't for me. I think I lot of people are going to like this though, and I will still be on the lookout for future releases for this author.

Codega’s writing is haunting and evocative, with a sense of tension that builds throughout, keeping you on the edge of your seat. The characters are complex and deeply flawed, making their journeys both unsettling and fascinating. While the pacing can feel slow as it builds toward its chilling climax, the novel’s rich atmosphere and eerie themes make it a must-read for fans of gothic horror and surreal storytelling. If you’re looking for a thought-provoking and spine-tingling experience, Motheater offers a unique, unsettling journey into the dark unknown.

First of all, this cover is STUNNING. I love it. You will like this if you like slow-paced stories, witchy magic, folk horror elements, Appalachian settings, dual timelines, and nuanced characters.

I personally wasn't a huge fan of the story. This claims to be a queer fantasy, but I don't think it fits that description. Yes, there are fantastical elements because there are witches and magic, and there's a dash of queer romance, but it's more a mix of literary and historical fiction with mystery, magic, and a little folk horror.

The writing is lovely, I really enjoyed the prose, but the plot left a lot to be desired in my opinion. It felt very slow and meandering, and I just wasn't gripped by what was happening. I liked a lot of elements of this, mainly the writing style, Appalachian setting, folk elements, and characters, but I didn't like much of what was happening.

The commentary about environmentalism and other themes felt surface-level, the romance felt thrown in, and it didn't make sense to me (I think they should've just been friends or platonic because they had no romantic chemistry at all), and the constant references to Christian scripture got old for me very quickly. That's a preference thing, though. I personally don't like when religion is a big element unless there's commentary around it.

Overall, I don't think this will work for everyone, especially not if they're expecting fantasy, but it will work splendidly for a lot of people. I just wasn't one of them. I still think it's a solid debut and I will keep my eye on this author to see if their future work is better suited for me cause I already love their writing style and creativity.

i think i was expecting something else when picked this up so i was kind of disappointed. i was hoping for more fantasy and probably more fast paced. maybe i'll try again some other time

A spectre of decolonization and an ecological consciousness haunts Motheater - these themes will only become more present in speculative fiction in the years to come, I expect. (For good and bad reasons... "at least Vietnam gave us good protest songs" and all that jazz. (Literally.))

The text oscillates, sometimes awkwardly, in-between that loftier mystery-laden, wonderment-working and the hour's sapphic yearning tragicomedic proceedings.

There is an... unease-with-itself in all the things Motheater tries to be, as a story, which shows most in the overexternalization of Bennie's thoughts, which shows her that she is conflicted and is trying to be focused on her goals... by showing her conflicted, in the same ways, already implicitly discernable from the rest of the text, repeatedly. The prose is rough in places. Yet, elsewhere, Codega excels as a hierophant, a witness of miracles, a conveyor of the sublime wonder that is the proper effect of magic and of nature.

Not without flaws, but an excellent debut novel by all means. Certainly a writer to watch.

*Thank you to Erewhon Books and NetGalley for the e-arc. All opinions are my own.*

I. loved. this. Now, I will first preface this by saying if you don't like a slower-paced experience, one might not be for you. This book really take its time. However, it really worked for me. I'm someone who loves an atmospheric experience (often even over that of impeccable writing, plot, etc.). When the vibes line up, I'm locked in until the end, and the vibes were THERE for me in Motheater. Appalachian novels are something I can never get enough of - we're not writing and publishing enough of them, if you as me - and I adored spending time in Kiron. I appreciated the dual timelines. I loved learning about Motheater's past as we navigated the present. I felt like it really added to the tension of the plot. The end felt worth the ride it took to get there, which is a huge feat for a heavy-plot book like this. So frequently am I underwhelmed by the way a story of this caliber is wrapped up, but it felt final and solid which I appreciated. I will note, the one downfall I felt throughout this reading experience is the <spoiler>romance subplot</spoiler>. It felt rather unnecessary in a book like this and I wasn't feeling the chemistry most of the way through. It felt a bit forced, if I'm being honest. All in all, regardless of that, I had a wonderful time reading this and I can't wait for more from this author!

This one took me a while to get through. I wanted this to be a fun witchy queer fantasy (fav) set in the Appalachias (love) with Christian trauma and undertones (relatable). What I got was literary fiction that had a few fantastical elements. While that isn't bad, it's not how the book was pitched and it's not what I wanted from it. It was much slower than I was expecting and I wasn't in love with the relationship between Motheater and Bennie. I enjoyed the writing style, the setting, and the horror elements that came into this book, but overall it just didn't click with me the way I wanted it to. One of my favorite subgenres is "southern queer teens encountering magical/fantastical horror" and this unfortunately didn't stack up to the others.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc!

Really neat weird little story! I enjoyed the setting and the allegory to nature fighting back, plus it was a little spooky and witchy which I love.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read a copy of Motheater by Linda H. Codega before publication on Jan 2025.
This was a well-written story moving back and forth between timelines I didn't get confused and was easy to follow. It started strong but the ending seemed it was very rushed for me. The Characters don't rise to the occasion for me. A witch Vs Industry across two different timelines with a dash of queer romance.

The small-town, Appalachian setting for this novel was absolutely beautiful (to a city girl like me) and the premise of the witch who gets pulled out of the mountain after 150-odd long years fighting the mining industry made for a fantastic allegory for environmental justice. This then becomes further enhanced in a very literal way as the mountain fights back and turns into a horror trope kind of ending, with a physical beast that I really enjoyed! The characters are unique and I felt like I had a personal stake in the lives of each of the main four. However it did feel a bit icky that a white person whose niche is in queer media and has nothing about ethnicity studies/speciality on their website decided to write a Black main character?

Now, I'm calling Bennie the MC because she's the perspective we're fed the majority of the story through, and Motheater is mostly understood through Bennie's own understandings. However it went a little too far for me when they wrote in a scene where she was fearful of a cop for the obvious racial difference - and I just want to say that while white people can understand fear of authorities for a variety of reasons, race will never be one of them and it feels like taking away a voice from a Black person to attempt to replicate this. But the worst part for me was that the entire thing was a non-event, the reason the cop spoke to her went away immediately, and it had so little bearing on the story that literally nothing would change and no references anywhere else would even need to be taken out, just this one scene, which to me says it was gratuitous and self-serving "anti-racism".

On top of this, we've all heard about the ugly stereotype of the Black person whose story purely serves to uplift and further the white person's? Well, that's what this book did. Self-sacrificing Bennie worked the entire book to help others, free her town, aid Motheater's path to redeeming herself and her version of the town from so many years ago, and Bennie, sadly, worked to see her town saved through uplifting the white character.

Disclaimer: I did also consult another source, a Black person, before I shared these thoughts to ensure I wasn't speaking for the Black community etc.

I love a weird little book set in Appalachia and boy does this deliver! The setting was amazing, the writing and pacing were intentional and thoughtful and I just overall really liked this!

Motheater by Linda H. Codega

As someone who loves D&D and who has been a passionate reader of io9 since before Charlie Jane Anders left, I was very impressed by the writing of Linda H. Codega. I really enjoyed their articles about the OGL fiasco and I thought their reporting was top notch and their writing style was clear and enjoyable.

So I was very excited when their first novel was previewed in io9 and even more excited when I got an eARC from NetGalley and the publisher.

This novel was interesting. Like I’ve said about the novels of Chuck Tingle and Stephen King, I think I would very much enjoy a novel by Linda Codega that didn’t have genre elements.

The book starts with Bennie, a woman who moved to a mining town in Appalachia with her boyfriend, got a job at the mining company, and made a best friend there with whom she was looking into suspicious mining deaths. But then her friend was killed in some sort of mining incident and in the aftermath she then broke up with her boyfriend and was living on the fringe of poverty while trying to figure out a way to take the mining company down. At this point the story begins when she finds Motheater, a witch who had been trapped in the mountain for 150+ years. This fascinating setup is undermined by alternating chapters with Motheater’s perspective from before she was stuck into the mountain. I was bored by these flashback chapters and I felt they added very little to the overall narrative. Furthermore, the book doesn’t really mine the time traveling culture shock or the realization that magic is real very well. There are token attempts but they feel halfhearted at best.

In addition, I was disappointed that Bennie never got justice for her best friend or all of the other dead miners and that part of the driving of the plot was abandoned without much explanation. Furthermore, the explicit tying in of the magic to Christianity was quite offputting to me (and presumably will be to many other non-Christian readers).

But when this book worked, it worked. The language was often lyrical. The blue jay familiar was a joy. I look forward to Linda Codega’s next book.

I really enjoyed this book and loved the new and fresh setting it provided. At times the book was a little confusing but the story still kept me hooked throughout.