Motheater is a uniquely imagined and thematically rich novel, with a surreal atmosphere that lingers long after the final page. Linda H. Codega explores unsettling territory with lyrical language and haunting imagery. The world-building is ambitious, and there’s a distinct voice throughout the book that sets it apart.

However, the pacing is noticeably slow. At times, the narrative drags and loses momentum, making it difficult to stay fully engaged. While the book offers moments of brilliance, it demands patience from the reader. If you’re looking for a fast-paced or tightly plotted story, this might not be the right fit. But for fans of eerie, symbolic fiction who don’t mind a slower journey, Motheater has its rewards.

1.75

I really did not like this book and honestly, I’m really upset about it. This was sold as sapphic Appalachian magic with sentient mountains and I mean they weren’t wrong but from nearly the beginning of the book there was something about that irked me and I struggled to finish it.

I think the biggest thing that I struggled with was the writing. It was flowery in a way that became distracting and by the 50% mark I was Over It. I also really really struggled with the choice to make Bennie a Black woman because to me it was obvious that the author was not Black. Like I would love a book that explores the intersection of racism, classism, and environmental degradation in Appalachia but this felt so surface level that it seemed like a diversity box checking exercise. I also didn’t love the way the story handled the political and social concepts it was trying to explore. It started out very anti-mining/capitalism but then started to sway into pro-corporation/anti-union territory and like yes those concepts get messy and complicated when you’re talking about “real world” issues especially in places like rural Appalachia over the last 150 years but as a reader it was jarring to see the main characters flip flop on these issues so frequently.

Overall, I think the idea was there but the execution fell super flat for me. It maybe would have worked better if it was solely set in modern day or solely set in the historical timeline or if Codega had written from a white woman’s perspective and not tried to write outside their own racial experience, but that’s not the book they wanted to write.

Thank you, Kensington Publishing | Erewhon Books and NetGalley, for the chance to read and review this book.

After losing her best friend in a coal mine, Bennie Mattox is determined to uncover what's happening at the miners in Kire Mountain. When she finds an half-drowned woman in a mine slough, she hopes she can help her as a proof.
But the woman calls herself Motheater and she doesn't remember anything, only that she's a witch of Appalachia. Her own fate, the promises she made years ago, the ones she bent and broke have followed her in the future. Now, with Bennie they will have to protect the city itself.

Motheater is a fascinating queer story about a clash between industry and nature, a search for justice, love and promises and a very nuanced book, that, unfortunately, couldn't convince fully. I loved the story, but I wasn't captured by it or by its characters, so unfortunately it fell a bit flat for me.

I really liked this one. From the very start, the Appalachian setting pulled me in- it’s almost like another character in the story, vivid and full of mood. Bennie’s determination to uncover what happened to her friend and the missing miners gave the mystery a strong emotional core. The mix of folklore, especially the moth magic, added an eerie, haunting vibe that worked for me.

I will say that some parts in the middle felt slow, with a lot of details that didn’t always move the story forward. But the ending, especially Bennie’s personal journey, made up for it. I also appreciated how the book didn’t wrap everything up neatly- real life and complicated issues don’t work that way, and this story felt honest about that.

The queer themes felt natural, and were beautiful. The environmental tensions gave the plot real stakes. If you’re into atmospheric fantasy that’s more about character and place than fast action, Motheater is definitely worth a read. I am excited to read more from this author!

this was super interesting! i’ve never read a book like this before—and i really enjoyed how unique it was. there were periods that felt a little slow, but overall, a great read

DNF 14%

This book is really strange. I think when I requested it on NetGalley, I didn’t pay much attention to the synopsis — or maybe something about it caught my eye that, unfortunately, didn’t show up at the beginning of the book.
When I started reading, I found the story really odd, and I immediately felt like it wasn’t the kind of book I usually enjoy.
I kept going for a bit, hoping it would shift into something more interesting to me, but it just didn’t.
Eventually, I decided to take a break and read other things. And honestly, I never felt the urge to go back to it. So I figured it was better to DNF.
There’s nothing wrong with the book itself — it’s just not for me. It didn’t grab my attention or make me want to keep reading. I'm still a little confused as to why I requested it in the first place, unfortunately.

Thank you to Netgalley for the arc!!
I know very little about the Appalachian Mountains and the surrounding areas, but Codega's beautiful and lyrical descriptions really made it come alive in my mind. It was an extremely slow read, but the atmosphere was very beautiful throughout. People who want an action-packed plot will be disappointed.

Although the premise sounded very good, this was a bit of a slog for me to get through. If you enjoy a slow read this could be for you. I was pretty disappointed, I almost DNFed but was determined to finish. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read.
2 star

A blend of Appalachian folklore,queer identity, and environmental themes. The setting is atmospheric and the premise compelling..However the pacing occasionally falters and I would have liked to have seen more character development. Still a strong read with strong themes and evocative writing.
Many thanks to Kensington and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I sadly decided to DNF this book. However, I haven’t written it off completely. It is still on my Goodreads list and I’m hoping that one day I’ll get back to it.

It’s just a bit too slow for me

Set in the Appalachian Mountains in Virginia. Benethea founds a half drowned woman in a mine sough. She doesn’t remember her name but all she remember that she is the last witch of the Ridge and people call her motheater. I loved how Benethea decides to help the woman regain her memory and also find out the truth. The truth surprised me. I felt sad for Motheater. As soon as the truth comes out, the story takes a dark turn. Expect mythology, secrets, mystery, curse, and twists.

If you are looking for a fantasy with engaging characters and unique plot balancing both light and darkness, read this book.

Thanks to the Publisher

This is a tough book to rate purely because I really liked the atmosphere and world-building of the book, but the pacing and relationship between Motheater and Bennie was a bit off.

This book has a tremendous amount of potential - I loved the premise and it drew me in immediately, but the pacing is a bit slow. This isn't necessarily a deal-breaker, but it just didn't seem like it fit the book, especially while it's trying to juggle a romance at the same time.

I'm happy I finished it, but I think with a bit of tightening up, it could've really shined!

Thank you so much to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This one was well written with exceptional nature descriptions and lyrical meaning. The main character was quite complex especially Motheater which were hard to understand. The vibes were quite chilly with all the witchiness in it!!

Motheater has a fantastic premise - Motheater is an Appalachian witch who has amnesia. She is found in the mountains by Bennie who is searching for a mining companies dirty secrets.

This book promises southern gothic and a sapphic relationship and while it delivers it just didn’t hit the way I wanted it to for me. That by no means it’s a bad book, it just wasn’t for me.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for an Arc.

Motheater is a richly textured debut that immerses readers in the haunting beauty of Appalachia. Codega masterfully intertwines folklore, environmental themes, and queer narratives, creating a story that is both enchanting and thought-provoking. The character development is compelling, particularly the evolving relationship between Bennie and Motheater, which adds depth to the narrative. While some readers have noted pacing issues and abrupt character decisions, the novel's atmospheric world-building and exploration of complex themes make it a standout in contemporary fantasy.

DNF @49%

This was so boring. The past storyline was better than the present day one. I didn't care about what was going on at all in the present day storyline. I didnt care about the characters and I the writing wasn't great.

2.5 ⭐️ Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. Sooo I initially DNF at 44%, but then I found myself needing to go back and try to finish this book again. Could I have lived without reading the rest of this book…absolutely. I will say that initially I was hooked on this book. I was all in. I liked the setting and the whole Appalachian-witchy vibe. I even liked the main characters. Something happened with the writing like a third of the way in. It just wasn’t interesting anymore. The book ropes you in, then just kind of leaves you hanging. If you want to read a book purely on vibes…this lowkey might be right up your alley.

2.5 🌟
Bennie stumbles upon a woman washed up in a river, while she is trying to find proof that the company mining in her town is doing nefarious things causing suspicious disappearances. The found woman can't remember anything of her life, but knows people call her Motheater and that she's a witch. This story is about their pursuit in saving the mountain and town from the evils that come with mining.

The pacing was really slow and I ended up not feeling invested in the characters at all. The relationship between Bennie and Motheater felt forced and out of place in the storyline. The bit of magic in the book was "Appalachian witchy" and became kind of confusing. Did the mountain in the end gain limbs and start walking??

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

DNF @36%

This books had a really interesting premise that captivated me when I first requested it, but since I started reading, I found this book was very much not for me structure-wise. There are very few books I've read with a dual timeline structure that I've enjoyed and this didn't hit the mark for me. Ideally, you start with an interesting present timeline to drive your interest while the past timeline takes more time to get into but, by the end, the build up will make for a climatic ending. My interest in either timeline just wasn't there, unfortunately. I also didn't feel as invested in the main character Bennie's plot where she wanted to find out how to save the coal miners. I just couldn't feel the sense of urgency in that compared to Bennie learning more about motheater.

I think there's a lot of other good elements here, and this may be a book I come back to for the setting, but for the moment, I just couldn't get into it.

In this eerie, atmospheric debut set in the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia, Linda H. Codega combines the complicated history of the region’s coal mining industry with the earthy, magnetic folklore that infuses the land—and Motheater, the last witch of the Ridge—with power. When Benethea Mattox discovers a half-drowned white woman in a mine slough, she takes her in, even though the woman can’t remember her real name and has more than a few unsettling quirks. Still reeling from the death of her best friend, Bennie is on a quest to uncover the reason miners keep turning up dead on Kiron’s mountain. Together, Bennie and Motheather embark on a mission to break the curse holding the people of Kiron captive to the mountain’s rage for more than a century. Infused with magic, sapphic romance, and a touch of eco-horror and science fiction, Motheater is a deft exploration of the ways in which humanity’s dominion over nature threatens the very resources we depend on.