I have been struggling since January 20 as I’ve watched people I didn’t vote for dismantle and destroy my country. My representatives don’t speak to me or for me. These days, I only get the occasional form letter from one of my three Congressional representatives. Linda H. Codega’s novel, Motheater, was a badly needed balm. The protagonists of this novel, Motheater and Bennie Mattox, go up against an implacable mining company and a murderous curse. I really needed a story about a powerful, protective witch, fighting an enemy that would feel unbeatable in real life.
Bennie Mattox is a former employee of the company mining through Kire Mountain, near her Virginia home in Kiron. She used to track accidents and enforce safety regulations. When a series of miners die in strange accidents, Bennie turns investigator until the company kicks her out. We meet Bennie on the same day that she stumbles across a mysterious woman, in very old-fashioned clothing, in a mountain stream. A good soul, Bennie scoops this woman up and helps her recover from whatever landed her in the cold water in the first place. And then things get strange.
The woman from the mountain stream, Motheater, is very up-front about the fact that she is a witch. She claims the power of the mountains around Kiron and her own fierce will, much to Bennie’s astonishment. A quick demonstration of Motheater’s power convinces Bennie that she very much wants the witch on her side. We learn more about Motheater’s origins in alternating chapters set in the 1870s, when the first mining company came to Kiron. Motheater has always hated the mining companies. She also has an uneasy relationship with the people of Kiron and her snake-handling preacher father.
Each chapter reveals more about the real villains and heroes of Kire and Kiron, pulling me more deeply into the novel. The writing style is vibrant and, frequently, feels like someone recounting an old legend or fairy tale. Codega’s writing is beautiful. At times, I felt like I was on the mountain trails with Motheater and Bennie. I love rich writing like this. What I love even more, however, is a plot that asks questions about sacrifice, accountability, and protectiveness.
Readers who are also looking for a bit of magic and heroism—or even just a soulful walk in the forest—will love Motheater.