What attracted me to this book was its cover and title, and I’m so glad I got the chance to read it! I always enjoy any book that have magic in it and this one didn't disappoint, even though it's not the main theme. I was especially glad that I was able to understand the connection between the magic of the land and the Buck's family. This is a beautiful story about family, forgiveness and healing of ancestral traumas. The sceneries we get to imagine in this book are magical, and Alli Dyer's descriptions were so vivid, I could picture them in my mind!

In this novel, we follow Lee, a.k.a Opaline, who’s moving back to her hometown with her 2 kids following a separation from her husband. She isn’t really thrilled but it’s the only place she knows she can go to and where she thinks she'll be safe. She is struggling to reconnect with her family and acknowledge her legacy, but when bodies start showing up after each of her grandmother’s ritual, she has no choice but to finally accept who she is at her core and do everything in her power to find who’s behind all of this. And get that: this book has not 1, but 2 endings!!!! At around 75% of the book, you think you're done, because something big just happened and it was resolved, but nope! There's another twist and I didn't see this one coming, so kudos to the author for that!!!!

If you are looking for a heart-warming story with some mystery and suspense, this is your book!

All my thanks to NetGalley, Alli Dyer and Atria Books for the advanced reader’s copy of Strange Folk.

This novel tells of an enchanting world nestled within the haunting beauty of the Appalachian landscape. It blends together ancient magic, familial secrets, and the pull of coming home. A captivating read.
Many thanks to Atria and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion. .

This was an interesting book for me, full of magic and mystery. I enjoyed how the descriptions of the setting and the characters helped the book play out like a vivid movie in my mind. There were moments that felt like Practical Magic and the deep wilderness of the mountains had a baby, but with a very dark atmosphere. There are definitely a few trigger warnings for readers, but the story doesn't included things for no reason, they help to weave the tale.

Overall I enjoyed this. I enjoy my first book by Alli Dyer and would be interested in reading more.

I found the premise of the book not to my liking and found it difficult to read through. I may pick this up again when the book is released, but DNF'd due to this reason.

4 🌟
This book had such fun, real characters. It went more into the serious familial and generational trauma that can be passed down than I expected, but that brought more depth to the characters. The magic was interesting, but I wish they went into more detail about how the magic system worked. I realize the POV we get is mainly from two characters who have been on the outside of the magic and are just learning their power, but I still would have liked more from the magic. The characters and story remind me very much of the Appalachia I know, which I also enjoyed. A very fun read despite it's serious themes, I found myself unable to put it down. I would absolutely recommend this book.

Thank you to netgalley for the arc copy!

I wish I could rate more than a 4 stars...it's definitely earned a 4.5! I really enjoyed this story. The characters were well developed and I found myself connecting immediately with them. The family aspects I think we can all relate to...even if we don't have magic around us. I totally enjoy a novel that goes deeper than just the regular tropes. I think you'll enjoy this read!

Thanks to Atria Books, Alli Dyer and #NetGalley for the eARC in return for my honest review.

"Moonshine, magic, and a murder mystery! What's not to love? If you're a southern girl, or even just a rural one, I think this story will resonate with you whether or not you happen to believe in magic. Dyer's backwater world is vivid, and her characters are no less vibrant than their surroundings. The trauma and healing that this family goes through together are enough to bring anyone back for more.

Certain elements of the story felt a little haphazard, as other reviews have mentioned, but Dyer's adept writing is enough to hold the story together. A+ Alli!" - My Goodreads review

I loved this book! I’m a half-way fan of fantasy because I need it rooted in reality. This is the type of book that makes me go, “yup, mountain people have magic”… in great and sometimes creepy ways.

This book had a lot of characters but I never got mixed up in who did what. The author did a great job with character development and plot, I really couldn’t love this book more and I plan to pre-order the hardcopy.

After her divorce, Lee returns to her hometown of Craw Valley to the family she swore she would leave behind. Lee fears her children won’t understand her strange folk with their superstitions and magic but instead her children seem to thrive in their new environment. When a target of her grandmother Belva’s magic mysteriously dies Lee must search for answers and reawaken her magic to save her family and the town she turned her back on.

Strange Folk is a magical debut novel set in Appalachia in which a young woman struggles to reconnect with her magical family while learning to accept that they are seen as strange by others. I really wanted to love this one but it wasn’t really working for me. There is a lot going on and yet I was a bit bored maybe? It started out really well but then somewhere along the line I just lost interest. There were some really interesting characters and I enjoyed her grandmother Belva’s wisdom for her family but it just wasn’t enough to keep my attention throughout. Several of the characters were flat, lacking any real insight into their magic which was a bit of a bummer. I’m sure many readers will enjoy this novel but for someone who usually loves magical families this was a bit of a letdown.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this novel!

This book was hauntingly beautiful. Following Lee’s journey as she’s struggling to find herself amidst a divorce and moving back home to her painful childhood memories, I can’t help but be drawn in to the story. I connected with every single character, and the unique sight that Lee has been given really helps develop those connections. There were so many twists and turns, a lot of commentary on life in Appalachia compared to suburban life, and real life struggles of addiction, self worth, and guilt. I hope every reader is sucked in and connected to this novel just like I was!

I enjoyed this story! The plot was intriguing, the characters were well developed, and the setting was so good! Lots of twists and turns to keep you surprised and intrigued. There are some darker themes that some readers may be sensitive to.

4 stars...first off thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the eARC of this book. I really enjoyed this story. The characters were well developed and the plot was good. There is magic, family bonds, love, hexing gone bad/murdery, a little spice/romance and small town vibes. I would definitely recommend this book if you enjoy a little small backwoods town vibes with holistic healing grandmothers and a little bit of coming of age/finding your magic.

There was a strong start to this fantasy adventure. But, after a while there was so much going on, it was hard to keep up with all of the characters. This is a great novel, but it’s for a specific audience.

Lee was the child that was able to escape her Appalachian hometown. Now she's returning after the destruction of her marriage with her two children in tow. She just needs to regroup and then get out again. She doesn't mean to get involved in her grandmother's delusions again. But her grandmother is still practicing her folk healing and trying to convince Lee that she needs to open herself up to the magic that is her birthright.
This book is a good look at generational trauma in rural America through the lens of a magical community. Lee is trying to separate herself from the ways of her grandmother. Her mother is deep into addiction. Her children are drawn to the magic of the area but don't have the perspective to see the risks inherent in it. Lee isn't an objective observer either so she overreacts and risks driving everyone apart.

Overall, really enjoyed it. This book was beautifully written filled with twists that keeps you engaged. The family relationships are strained and my heart hurt for these characters as they navigated through addiction.

Strange Folk is about Lee, who abandoned her small Appalachian small town of Craw Valley when she was eighteen. Nearly twenty years later, she returns with her two children after separating from her husband and is confronted with the magic and people she left behind.

This book was a pretty easy read and the writing created a textured background for the characters. The way the author talked about Craw Valley was super visual, and made me feel like the town was so much more than a backdrop for the characters.

Ultimately, I lost interest 50% through. While the writing was good, I found the characters bland and monotone. There are multiple POVs in the book, but the character voice was the same throughout. This was especially prevalent when reading chapters from Meredith’s (Lee’s 15 year-old daughter) POV. because the character had the same voice as her mother.

While I see where this book could have Practical Magic vibes, it didn’t have the same lightheartedness to combat the dark topics that were prevalent throughout the book. I didn’t dislike Strange Folk, but I personally didn’t find it memorable or like something I’d want to revisit again.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you, NetGalley and Atria books for this advanced readers copy. This was a fun and magical book about Opaline “Lee” who is returning to her family in Appalachia with her two children after her split with her husband. Lee always knew she and her family were different, but since she left to go to college in California so many years ago, she has tried to hide that part of herself. Now that she is back in her hometown, Craw Valley, she can be with her beloved grandmother Belva, but she must deal with why she left all those years ago, what is wrong with her mother and why she hasn’t spoken to her since she left. Oh and now a man is dead. Lee’s children love it here and are drawn into the magic. What is going on and can Lee find out in time to save everyone?

A family of witches that resides in Appalachia, welcomes back Lee who left when she turned 18. She did not want to be part of the magic wielders and never looked back. But when her marriage falls apart Lee returns 20 years later with her children to live with her grandmother.

The name is apt as the folk are quite strange - utilizing magic has caused many issues in the family from alcoholism, opiate addiction and abuse. There's all the trappings of the mountains - moon shine and music. The people draw their power from the earth and many times target other people. Lee quickly gets pulled into the ways of her family and finds herself part of the magic when her grandmother's spell goes wrong. Can Lee help her people? An great premise and interesting book - who doesn't love family and magic stories!
#atriabooks #strangefolk #allidyer

The title for this book is such a fitting one, because we encounter many strange characters throughout the story. The depth of family trauma and drama is very clear in this, and throughout it, we're left wondering how it could possibly be repaired.
The dark magic that has cursed the family may be the very thing that tears them to shreds. There are many quarrels and deaths because of the years of practice, and to me, this also made some of the story a bit repetitive. I did not love the way they used the term or endearment, "grandma mama," because it just sounds so natural to even read in my head. Overall, I liked the magical realism in this story, I enjoyed the layers we uncover about Lee, and that this book is a nod to the magic of Appalachia, but all in all, it isn't a favorite that I'll be recommending.

At 18 Lee left her home, in a small mountain community, with plans to never return. Trying her best to distance herself from her childhood she now realizes she lost herself completely. With a divorce in the works and in need of a place to stay she takes her children to the one place she swore she would never return to. Her family has always had a deep connection to the land, some would say magical, and they have always done their best to help the people of the community. But when a man turns up dead her family and their ways become something to fear for the mountain community.
I have read quite a few books now taking place in This book looks at generational trauma, addiction and poverty. Lee makes for an interesting character, she has a complicated relationship with herself and her family but has managed to be a strong mother for her children. This book was genuinely intriguing, and had a lot of layers.
Releasing August 6 2024
Thank you to @netgalley and @atriabooks for letting me read #strangefolk early in exchange for a review.
#bookstagram #bookstagrammer #readersofinstagram #readersofig #readersofinsta #books #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookreviewer #booklover #booknerd #bookbloggerspost #readallthebooks