Bennie is looking for evidence of a mining company’s crimes, and stumbles across Motheater, a witch half drowned and lost in time. We follow Bennie and Motheater in the present, trying to figure out why miners are disappearing in the mountain, as well as a witch in the past trying to stop the mining companies from invading her home. The witchcraft in this book is eerie and unsettling- sink holes that form underfoot, mountains that breathe and moths that whisper soul’s last memories. I really liked the setting and the magic system in this book, but I wish we’d gotten a deeper look into the characters and more time watching their connections and relationships form.

I really enjoyed the book, and I think that the concepts introduced were all really fascinating, as well as the characters themselves, who were all fun to read about, but I think that the book has a bit of a weakness when it came to the payoff of those concepts and connecting them to one another, which was something that I hoped would be resolved by the ending of the book, but it really wasn't, making the ending of the book not really feel like it was that much of an ending. Other than that, I think the book was a fun fantasy about the pitfalls of industrialization, witchcraft and Appalachia, all things that I personally adore in my own reading.

On a technical level, this book is a wonderful. Very beautifully written and engaging. The overall setting and plot didn’t end up being much for me, but that wouldn’t deter me from recommending this book to people who I think will enjoy it.

Motheater by Linda H. Codega wasn't what I was expecting, but a good read. The first chapter pulls readers in, and the ending of the book is beautiful. However, the middle of the book, the plot becomes a bit lost and messy. Codega provides detailed description which allows readers to be fully immersed within this world. The characters are loveable and Bennie's inner monologue is very relatable.

Within this world, readers get to experience the love one has for others as well as the love of the land. The love for both, causes tension and mystery as Bennie and Motheater try to follow their moral compass, try to right their wrongs, and try to put themselves first.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington publishing for an E-arc in exchange for an honest review

When Bennie’s best friend disappears in a mining accident, Bennie loses her job, and her boyfriend Zach, trying to determine the truth. Kelly-Anne isn’t the first person to disappear in the mines, but Bennie is hoping she’ll be the last. Then Bennie finds a woman trapped in some dirty mine runoff and saves her, trying to do the right thing, but also hoping she might finally get some answers. The woman doesn’t remember her name, only that she’s a witch from 150 years in the past, with some major unfinished business.

This book had so many things I loved; folk witchcraft, an immersive setting, queer romance, horror adjacent elements, and an interesting connection between religion and paganism that I found fascinating, and dual timelines.

Motheater and Bennie were both such passionate characters, and I loved that they were both fierce female characters. The setting was eerie but immersive and the use of language and phrases that matched the setting really evoked that immersive feeling. The wild-earth magic, the omnipresence of the mountain, and the folklore weaved in were truly masterful. The romance subplot felt a little bit last minute, but even it had me rooting for Bennie and moth-eater. I really liked this book, and the ending broke something in my brain and my heart. It was one of the most interesting and original books I’ve ever read.

Overall, read this book if you like
- heavy atmospheric settings
- Queer romance
- Folklore and wild magic
- Appalachian settings
- Dual timelines
- Nature fighting back

I really, really wanted to love this book from the start. A gorgeous cover, witchy Appalachia, sapphic rep, and environmentalism? Sign me up!

Unfortunately, I DNF'd about halfway through and just...haven't had the urge to pick it back up again. I was initially loving the idea of Motheater as a character, but somewhere along the line she lost that initial spark that drew me in. I know some other reviewers said they were actually more invested in the past timeline, and I totally agree.

All in all, I think it's just not my cup of tea right now but I'm sure others will love it. I do plan to revisit at some point in the future, so my review may very well change.

(Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review!)

A few years ago, I traveled through the Appalachian Mountains in Virginia and West Virginia and was moved and mesmerized by the size, culture, traditions, and history of these mountains and the people who once lived (some still do) within them. I would love to go back. This book did just that in such an interesting and beautiful way. It scratched my itch for historical fiction, stories of witches, and beautiful love stories mixed within different centuries of time. It’s unique and yet timely. I really enjoyed it!

Thank you to the author’s independent publisher and NetGalley for the ARC for my independent and honest review.

I enjoyed this book very much. I loved the story line, and really took to 'motheater". Such an original take and interesting story.

From even before I had the book, the vibes had me hooked. It's not often that books themselves live up to the vibes and hype the way that Motheater did. I can't articulate how well Codega wove the themes, the setting, and the story together that was so unique and so real and so lush. This is a fantasy that comes alive in a way that makes you truly believe magic exists in the mountains.

Plus, you give me a war between industry and nature? You give me sapphics? You give me weird witches with piecey memories and a moth-eaten sense of self? (Excuse my pun.)

My only wish is that there was more. The book moved fast - in a good way - but I wanted so badly to savor it.

First my thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity for an ARC copy of this novel 🫶

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a hundred times- as soon as I see a book takes place in Appalachia I’ve got to get my hands on it. Between knowing that; the gorgeous cover, mountains, and witches had me drawn in.

An Appalachian witch from days gone by, trying to remember who she is and regain her full power, and a modern day woman, investigating suspicious deaths in the coal mine of her small town, join together to get the answers they both need. This story spans the centuries between the two women’s times as you learn what happened in Motheater’s past, and how it’s effecting the future in Bennie’s time.

~~Spoilers~~

At times I felt like there was some dragging on of the scenes. The book itself isn’t too long which I appreciated but sometimes I found myself going “okay what’s next? Come on let’s go”?

I did enjoy swapping the chapters between different points of view between the characters. I liked reading what had happened during Motheater/Esthers time and trying to connect it to what was happening currently in Bennie’s time.

As some who grew up in Appalachia, I enjoyed the descriptions of the mountains and forests and towns. The very rural/natural kind of magic that is described here struck me as so deeply Appalachian.

This novel isn’t necessarily an easy read- from the different kinds of conflict and violence. For anyone from Appalachia- you will resonate with the descriptions of the small towns and coal mining communities. For anyone wanting to read a novel that takes place in Appalachia- while this is fiction, the depictions of the society and nature are a beautiful look into how our gorgeous land can be seen if you take the time to appreciate it.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.

In the small Appalachian town of Kiron, a suspicious number of mining deaths have been occurring. The White Rock mining company denies any wrongdoing, but Bennie suspects foul play and is determined to uncover the truth. When she hauls a half-dead woman out of a river, she thinks she may have the evidence she needs to hold White Rock accountable.

The woman claims to be a witch, buried in the mountain 150 years ago only and
recently unearthed by the miners.

The narrative unfolds in dual timelines. In the present, Bennie helps the witch,
known as Motheater, in regaining her memories and reclaiming her powers to stop
the miners' deaths. In the past, we learn how Esther (Motheater) became trapped in the mountain.

I thoroughly enjoyed the portrayal of Motheather and her magical relationship
with the world and people around her. The vivid imagery of the natural world
converging around her when she connects with her power is extremely effective
and, for me, sets the bar for what I want to see in a witch.

There is one part of the story that I wish the author had spent a little more time on, or explored a little more, and that was when Motheater reflects on the fact that she is surrounded by the progress that she fought so hard to prevent. She is from 150 years in the past; There is no way she could have foreseen what this future would look like, and there is a moment where she doubts her battle against progress. The book certainly doesn't paint the present as Utopian in any way, or that the progress we have experienced over the last 150 years is without negatives. However, it is difficult to predict what direction is going to dominate technology in the short term (AI anyone), let alone over 150 years. The progress that Motheater saw coming to her town was the encroaching industrial revolution. It posed a threat to her world in the mountains as outsiders sought to exploit her land and the source of her power. She knew that the wealth of coal in the mountains would potentially make the lives of her community easier, but had no way to know how completely 150 years of progress would change it.

One issue I had with the ARC was the numerous typos and missing words. The use of Appalachian vernacular sometimes made it difficult to discern whether these were mistakes or intentional. As someone unfamiliar with the region, I would have appreciated some guidance in understanding the local words and idioms.

I had very high hopes for this book, but it ended up being a bit of a tough read for me.

The book starts off very quickly and jumps into the story right away which I enjoyed, but it seemed to never catch up. We slowly get a bit of the main character’s motivation, but never end up learning much about her. There was a lot of fleshing out Motheater’s character, but that was it. Everyone else in the story seems secondary/not important.

The premise is really cool and I love Motheater’s magic. The creepy Appalachian setting is very intriguing and what kept me reading for most of the book.

At about 75% through I still felt that I didn’t really know much about the characters, couldn’t connect, and couldn’t really gather the urge to finish it.

Bennie has a goal – to prove the death of her friend in mines was not an accident. Living in close proximity of Appalachia, the world and people are strange. But the strangest thing happens when she discovers dead body on the side of the river coming from the mines. Even stranger? The body is alive, and belongs to the witch that lived one hundred and fifty years ago, one that lost her memory, remembering only one thing – she was a Motheater. Together, they are meant to discover secrets behind the small town, and magic it is bound to.

Guys, when I say I adored this book since the very beginning, I mean it. The opening lines were so captivating, capturing the very essence of its story – the weirdness, the uniqueness, the magic and atmosphere. You really feel the wilderness roaring from the lines, the love that burns the author to that particular region. The plot is slow, I will give it that, and not really adventurous – but it is worth it. Simple, yet charming. Simple, but detailed, crafted with love and talent. It would be a great movie, I would give everything to see it, but until that, read "Motheater". I ain't no fan of comparing one book to another, but if you're looking for the similar uniqueness that Maggie Stiefvater writes about, give Linda H. Codega a chance.

Fantastic read, innovative and engaging. Definitely will be on the lookout for more books from Codega! Recomend it to everyone!! Must read!

Motheater is an immersive slow-burn that's hard to get out of your system. From start to end, it grounds you into a world of mystery and magic, and blurs the lines between reality and fantasy. I loved the subtle romance to it; how it slowly built up throughout the story until it reached its fruition, yet never overshadowed what I felt was the true point of the story, which was for Motheater to finally assume her destiny, and Bennie to realize hers.

Highly recommend for readers who love fantasy and lore!

This book is beautifully written and the language used was enchanting. The concept and setting gives is a kinda of witchy/horror vibe. I liked the different POV’s especially those dipping into the past and the lore of the mountain

However the book just wasn’t my cup of tea. I ended up DNF’ing at 51% I can see this being a great hit with the right people but I just couldn’t get properly into it.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review

This is a wonderful debut novel. From the lyrical writing to the earthy, witchy and chilling atmosphere really captured me. Even though I loved it, it did lose me form time to time from the depths of the complexity of what was explained in the rules and magic. Nonetheless, the writing was beautiful, especially for a debut novel. It was truly a unique and captivating story.

I devoured this book. Beautifully written, with witches, gay love, fantasy action. I finished the book in 24 hours it drew me into it and I thought about it when I wasn’t reading it. Oh for the sequel. Thank you Linda. One of my fav reads for 2024 so far. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

I am so conflicted about this one. The premise made this seem like it was crafted just for me and my micro/niche interests. The opening was so great. But...I think this book is too long. I found myself skimming parts when I wanted to be able to savor and enjoy every word, and I found some of the plot points repetitive and exasperating. Overall, this was a wildly. mixed bag for me, but I would definitely check out future work from Codega.

I was lucky to read a very early version of this book and was delighted to revisit Codega's brilliance. A really inventive and haunting tale with biting prose. I'm really looking forward to seeing what stories Codega weaves next.