3.25/5

Set in the 80s deep in the Appalachia we follow Sheila, a seventeen year old girl who has a difficult life. Surrounded by poverty and harsh living conditions and bullied at school, she's also dealing with a lot of new feelings regarding herself and her sexuality. Her little sister Angie on the other hand is an adventurous preteen who is obsessed with a Russian invasion and learning how to defend herself. She also happens to create unsettling tarot cards that sometimes tell her what to do or predict future events. Then, two women are murdered on a nearby trail casting a shadow of violence and uncertainty in their community and drawing Angie, and by default Sheila, into the hunt for the murderer while odd things happen in the mountain and their home.

I enjoyed this, but I think it was wrongly marketed. The summary makes it seem more like a thriller or a mystery when it's actually a slow burn character exploration of Sheila. I can totally understand people not loving this based of that misconception, it is very slow and atmospheric, the kind of book that doesn't give you an explanation of the events, preferring to focus on the feelings and the vibe instead. The writing was good, intensely descriptive and you can tell the author grew up in the Appalachian mountains in the way they lovingly set the ambiance. I also liked the characters, the sisters had really different voices and personalities and their relationship rung true.

My only negative thoughts on this book related to the pacing and the resolution of the plot. This didn't need a murder or the search for the culprit, I would have enjoyed it more if we veered away from this plot and focused more on the magical realism aspect and the mountain. The ending was too abrupt and left me unsatisfied.

Regarding the audiobook I have nothing but praise for Susan Benett as the narrator. As someone who's not a native English speaker, it took me two chapters to really understand the accent, but once I got it I was fully into it. The different voices were excellent and engaging, and I do feel like it affected my enjoyment of the book in a positive way.

Thank you very much to NetGalley and the author for granting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review (or rating).

"Smothermoss" by Alisa Alering plunges readers into the eerie beauty of 1980s Appalachia, where Sheila navigates a turbulent world of bullying, caring for her great-aunt, and her younger sister Angie—an oddball fixated on nuclear war and zombies. Their lives take a dark turn after two hikers are murdered on the Appalachian Trail, leading the sisters on a dangerous hunt for the killer. As violence creeps closer, the Appalachian mountains loom large, their ancient presence a possible shield against the growing darkness.

What struck me most about "Smothermoss" is its unique blend of dark fairy tale and gothic Appalachia. As a kid from the '80s, I found it easy to connect with the setting—it’s a nostalgic return to a time when life seemed simpler yet full of shadows. Alering does a fantastic job of capturing the haunting atmosphere of the region, and the sibling relationship between Sheila and Angie is well-written, providing a strong emotional core to the story.

The novel is heavy on atmosphere and light on traditional mystery. There’s a sense that the story keeps drifting, and for a while, I wasn't sure where it was headed. Still, the journey was compelling—especially with Susan Bennett’s exceptional narration in the audiobook, which enhanced the Appalachian accents and kept me immersed.

At its heart, "Smothermoss" is a strange, dark, and intense read. While the supernatural elements were a bit overwhelming at times, the juxtaposition of Appalachian folklore with metaphysical themes created an intriguing tension. It’s not a book that’s concerned with tying up every loose end, which might frustrate some readers, but for me, that ambiguity only added to its strange charm.

Thanks to RBmedia for the Advance Reader's Copy.

"Smothermoss" was okay. The premise was interesting, and the magic and aliveness of the mountain were cool. The sisters weren't compelling though, and their perspectives were rambling.

In Smothermoss, the mountains are the main character. Truthfully, it took time for me to figure out how all the different parts of the story came together, and I was sometimes unsure as to what was real and what the two sisters were imagining. I particularly loved the descriptions and mentions of the tarot cards—even listening, I could envision them perfectly. This was a really interesting read that I will definitely be able to sell.

4.5 stars rounded down

Smothermoss is an ethereal atmospheric tale of two sisters - 17 year old Sheila and 12 year old Angie - who live in an Appalachian town with their mother and elderly aunt. When two city girls are found dead, Sheila and Angie find their lives shaken up.

This was such an interesting read! The visuals were amazing and this book is primarily vibes. The plot was minimal but the characters more than made up for it. I enjoyed meeting Sheila and Angie and the people they encounter. While I normally do not enjoy magical realism, this novel really worked for me!

I also adored the audiobook narrator who brought the characters to life with fun accents. I’d recommend listening to this one if possible

Thank you to NetGalley, RBmedia, and Recorded Books for access to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

This was a weird one for me. I loved the setting and thought the author did a great job of creating an Appalachian family struggling to make ends meet in the 80's. I really enjoyed both Sheila and Angie and thought their relationship as sisters felt believable and raw. My issue was with the plot, or lack thereof I guess. The hunt for a murderer was very secondary to the atmosphere and strange happenings and too much was left unexplained for my liking. Overall, I would read from the author again, but this one wasn't my favourite.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

An engaging combination of mystery and supernatural, this book thrusts you into the world of two sisters living in Appalachia. One has an interest in the occult, and the other just wants her family to survive. I enjoyed this wild ride, but the dark undertones might not be for all readers.

Set against the mysterious backdrop of the ancient Appalachian mountains, this story is a haunting blend of murder, sisterhood, and a touch of magic. Seventeen-year-old Sheila is burdened with caring for her aging great-aunt, looking after her Rambo-obsessed little sister, and managing the food and animals on their rural property. She also grapples with a secret love she fears revealing and a sense of suffocation in this rural life.

In contrast, her sister, twelve-year-old Angie, is a force of nature. She spends her days exploring the woods, searching for Russian spies and drawing graphic monster cards that, disturbingly, seem to communicate their desires to her. Their already complicated lives are thrown into turmoil when two young women are brutally murdered on a local hiking trail, sending the town into a frenzy. Angie is determined to find the killer, but she'll need Sheila's help—if Sheila can first learn to help herself.

The story weaves magical elements into the eerie setting of dense ferns and hidden dangers. With its tradition of viewing nature as a realm of malevolent magic, the American South is vividly brought to life here. The mountain becomes a character, exerting its will on the people who live there, with unseen forces seemingly controlling events.

I loved the vivid descriptions of the natural beauty of the Appalachian mountains, and Christine Bennett's narration was excellent, with different Appalachian accents and quite captivating.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this audiobook.

This book was wonderful! I have already recommended it to so many friends and rated it 5/5 stars on Goodreads. It is a deeply moving coming of age story of two sisters struggling to adjust to teenage life while living in Appalachia. The characters were unique and well rounded. Each sister's personality was realistic and believable. I liked that the audiobook narrator used different voices for the sisters.

Truthfully, I only kept listening because of the narrator’s beautiful Appalachian accent. The characters were intriguing, but the plot fell flat. I kept listening hoping the storyline would improve, but it just got more and more unsettling.

Thank you to NetGalley and Recorded Books/RB Media for the opportunity to listen to this ALC and provide my honest thoughts and review!

Sheila and her younger sister, Angie, seem like two ordinary sisters on the surface. Living out their lives in rural Appalachia, we see how the growing pains of teenage girls have changed (and maybe not changed so much at all) as we view them through the lens of the 1980s. But the gothic elements really come into play when we discover that Sheila feels as if she always has a rope noosed around her neck that no one except her can see or feel, and Angie makes her own deck of Tarot cards that seem to have a mind of their own.

The prose really pulls you in and the descriptions of the mountains and the settings that feel as old as time are very lush and vivid, making you feel as if you can touch the flowers and trees on the mountainside. I also appreciate that the audiobook narrator has a Southern accent, which makes the characters seem that much more real and believable! While some parts of the plot seem to get a little lost towards the end, you can appreciate the book for what it shows about the nature of teenage girls, including the navigation of young love and the ways that girls see life and love as they mature.

If you are looking for a gothic story with elements of folk tales, queer representation, and just a little bit of the surreal, then you should definitely read this or listen to the audiobook!

Alisa Alering’s Smothermoss is a novel that promises an atmospheric dive into mystery and family secrets, but while it has its moments, it ultimately falls short of its full potential. The audiobook presents a story set in the eerie and fog-laden Smothermoss estate with it's tangled web of relationships and secrets, and though it has some compelling elements, it struggles to maintain consistent engagement throughout.

The premise is intriguing, and the novel does a commendable job setting up a dark, mysterious atmosphere. However, the story unfolds at a slow pace, with significant stretches that feel drawn out. This can make it challenging for listeners to stay fully immersed, as the buildup of suspense often feels sluggish.

The narration is one of the audiobook’s strengths, with a voice performance that adds depth and mood to the story. The narrator’s ability to differentiate characters and convey the novel’s eerie tone enhances the overall experience, but it cannot fully compensate for the pacing issues in the narrative.

Additionally, the resolution of the story may disappoint some listeners. The ending feels somewhat ambiguous and leaves several questions unanswered, which can be unsatisfying for those who prefer more concrete conclusions.

In summary, Smothermoss has a strong atmosphere and a capable narrator, but its slow pace and uneven character development might leave some listeners feeling less engaged than they had hoped. It’s a decent listen for fans of gothic mysteries, but it may not fully deliver on its intriguing premise.

"Smothermoss" by Alisa Alering is women's fiction with magical realism in it. I found it very confusing and a bit slow.

Two sisters, one 17 years old and the other 13, are both pretty unhappy. They live with their mother and great aunt in the Appalachian mountains. This is set in the 1980s. Sheila, the older sister, takes care of everyone and everything while harboring secret thoughts of a girl she has a crush on. Angie, the younger sister, is obsessed with thoughts of war and fighting the Russians. She also draws her own tarot cards and uses them pretty effectively. They mysteriously turn up and disappear at odd times. The mountain they live on seems to have magic the girls can tap into.

Characters - 5/5
Writing - 3/5
Plot - 2/5
Pacing - 2/5
Unputdownability - 2/5
Enjoyment - 3/5
Narration - 3/5 by Susan Bennett
Cover - 3/5
Overall - 23/8 = 2 7/8 rounded up to 3 stars

Thank you to Netgalley, RB Media, and Alisa Alering for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

This book was really strange. It had some really unique elements to it and I was weirdly hooked to the story.

The two sisters had some serious weird vibes but the more the book went on, the more I appreciated their uniqueness and the beauty of their souls.

It has some really cool supernatural elements to it as well.

the writing is amazing and the narration really suited the tone of the book.

There are two murders in the wildness and the girls have very different reactions to it. I think the story is really about how these two very different girls come to appreciate each other during a dangerous time.

It was different but a seriously excellent read

4 stars

Smothermoss and Susan Bennett's narration made for a great listen. In 1980s Appalachia, Sheila and Angie, two very different sisters, both find ways to reckon with their family and the mystery surrounding the murder of two hikers.

Alisa Alering creates a claustrophobic atmosphere and brings the characters to life. Angie is precocious, if a bit paranoid, while Sheila struggles to appear more grounded and realistic. Their relationship is at the core of narrative as they fight with others and, more often than not, each other.

The description makes it seem like the murder mystery will be central to the plot, but it remains underdeveloped. As does, I think, the elements of magical realism that are woven throughout. Some lack of clarity is to be expected, but certain elements felt a bit too haphazard.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I think that probably a lot of important things get said in this book, but unfortunately they get buried by the style. At least as far as I'm concerned. I just didn't form a connection with the plot or the characters, although I really enjoyed the setting. This isn't really folkhorror - more literary fiction with a bit of magical realism as window dressing. Would have liked to enjoy it more than I did.

This was good!! A story of sisters, a story of not fitting in, a little mystery, a little magic, a lot of heart and grit in these characters. The audiobook was well read.

1.5 Stars
When I read the description for this book it sounded like something I’d enjoy but the majority of the time I was listening to this I felt dumb because I just could just barely comprehend what was happening. I feel like the invisible boy and even the rope was meant to symbolize something but I really don’t know what. Maybe this is a book I have to physically read for me to understand it but I will say that I did enjoy the audiobook narrators voice at least lol.

Thank you NetGalley and RBmedia for the ARC!

Story based on the fragile relationship between 2 sisters until something happens that brings them closer together, finally revealing secrets. Throw in a touch of mystery and possibly paranormal activity...voilà!