I went into this novel expecting horror, but the story never delivered on that particular genre. This is a gothic portrait of a deeply dysfunctional family untangling from one another. I adjusted my expectations as I read and ended up enjoying it for what it is, but it certainly wasn’t what I expected.

I wanted this to be so much more than what it was. There were parts where I felt like it was really going to get there, but it couldn't choose a direction to take. It failed to lean in to a theme. I really enjoyed the switching POVs of the siblings, I thought that really helped the story move along well. I think there were a few too many times where the author just told us instead of showed us. I feel like there was so much potential here. The writing was very well done and the ideas were very original, when you get to the twist of what Charlie finds out, I was shocked. I just think perhaps a bit better part on the editing side of helping steer towards a more cohesive direction would have been helpful.

This is dysfunctional family fiction masquerading as a kind of gothic. Not quite horror, not quite environmental treatise. The premise is interesting but the details didn't gel into a cohesive narrative.

Utterly delicious. Claustrophobic and beautifully written, this was the damp, mildewy, twisty, "what the hell is going on" bog book of my dreams. The setup is perfectly cryptic, and I really didn't guess where the story was going--all of the Haddesley siblings had such fascinating(ly tormented) POV chapters, and I found myself devouring chapter after chapter without coming up for air. Excellent themes of stewardship, legacy, and what it means to have & find purpose.

Whatever Kay Chronister writes next, I will be there. This was brilliant.

A creeping, beautiful gothic tale delving into the complexities of family, legacy, and the stories we tell ourselves about ourselves!

The setting is phenomenal, and the premise was great. However, the execution didn't work me. I struggled to maintain interest. It was more family drama than horror for too long. I expected the book to be scary, but it wasn't.

I was waiting for it to “pull me in” but it never quite did. Still an interesting twist on a new and inventive concept with an old foundation.

Not as scary as I hoped but still an enjoyable and compelling read. Perfect for October, so the timing of publication is perfect!

In the isolated backwoods of West Virginia is a decrepit old manor house surrounded by a bog. The patriarch is dying and all of his children are required home to perform an occult burial ritual. Middle daughter, Wenna, returns to the place she ran from a decade ago. Interesting premise.

The atmosphere of this book is really amazing and draws you in from page one. Kay Chronister does a phenomenal job of layering the complex family drama with the perfect amount of gothic themes making this a fantastic addition to your TBR.

The blurb on this book had me intrigued and curious and that curiosity continued throughout the book. This was a tumbling narrative of family dysfunction and a strange ecosystem they live in and almost worship. This book did not disappoint as the storyline changed and developed. It became harder to stop reading late into the night to see where we were all heading.

I didn’t know I needed this Appalachian folk horror gothic book in my life but here we are. The Bog Wife is a strange yet compelling tale of the Haddesley family who share an intimate relationship with the bog which sustains them in more ways than one. The bog provides and in exchange they must provide a worthy sacrifice.

The family carries out a tradition of bizarre rituals with the bog, designed to ensure the continuation of the family’s lineage. This is a haunting yet beautiful written story of family secrets, sacrifices and relationships. The character development is superb and the writing exquisite, treading the line between fantasy and horror. I will be thinking about this one for a long time to come.

Thank you to NetGalley and Titan Books for my eARC!

The Bog Wife by Kay Chronister is a hauntingly atmospheric novel that delves into folklore and mysticism with rich, evocative prose. As a fan of Chronister’s previous work, I found this story’s dark allure and intricate storytelling to be deeply captivating. The novel’s eerie charm and compelling narrative make it a standout addition to Chronister’s impressive body of work.

A West Virginia family channels their Irish roots and claims a oneness with their land. The bog calls to some of them and repels others.

The atmosphere in this book is incredible. It is a really compelling work of Appalachian folk horror that blurs the line between the mundane and the supernatural, reality and lies, and family ties vs. family binds.

Chronister's writing is grounded, steeped in the Earth. She weaves a beautifully haunting family tale, laden with secrets, and nature. A modern classic for the folk-horror genre.

I had a hard time with this book. I found the plot difficult to follow, as well as the description of characters. The idea of the story is wonderful, and I hope it hits for others.

A dysfunctional family drama set in an isolated, dilapidated mansion sinking into a bog. This book would be perfect for readers who enjoyed Little Eve by Catriona Ward. It's part folk horror, part cult narrative, and all weird. The story follows the different perspectives of the family members as they each deal with the death of their father, the patriarch of their very strange and sequestered family, most of whom have never actually left the family property on a cranberry bog. Some want to uphold the family beliefs, at any cost, and others just want to escape. The bog itself is shifting and changing underfoot, an instability that is echoed by the family trying to navigate who they are and who they want to be, individually and as a family. Readers who like twisty slow-burn narratives that keep readers guessing what will come next.

Kay Chronister's "The Bog Wife" follows five siblings as the family's ritual to bring prosperity falls on their shoulders. We read as the Haddesley family struggle to figure out what to do when the ritual is unsuccessful. As described in the synopsis, "The Bog Wife" is incredibly atmospheric, Chronister does a wonderful job transporting the reader to Appalachian West Virginia.

Although I found it slow to start, Chronister's writing is raw, weird and at times speculative, which makes for a compelling title that I could not put down.

This was a campy, interesting read. I loved the ambiguous nature of the story, never knowing if the Haddesleys were actually experiencing the bog magick or if they were just conditioned to believe it. The different points of view kept things interesting and I found myself rooting for them to escape their legacy.