Julie’s thoughts: “Rich and dreamy and taut and thrilling. Magical and mysterious in every good way. I love Appalachia- which is not a secret, but I adore a bit of unexpected horror, which is now less of a secret. This is setting that vibes like it’s own character and I couldn’t get enough. I’m now aching for set of tarot cards like Angie’s. “
Siblings Sheila and Angie live with their aging great-aunt and mother in a rural Appalachian community. Older sister Sheila endures relentless bullying at school, and is essentially in charge of the house while her mother works long shifts at a nearby asylum. Sheila is also haunted by a strange rope around her neck, which no one else can see.
Young Angie is embracing her inner animal, exploring the wilderness, and prepping for a potential nuclear war. Angie also draws weird tarot-esque cards, which seem to spring for the murky depths of her unconscious. When a pair of hikers are brutally murdered, Angie makes it her mission to track down the killer.
I absolutely loved this weird bildungsroman mixed with the uncanny, where the power of nature is ever-present. Sheila and Angie had a “We Have Always Lived in the Castle” vibe about them, which I adored. The conclusion of the story, and the way the sisters come together, is immensely satisfying. I loved Angie’s fierce independence, and her utter fearlessness; a true descendent of Merricat Blackwood.
I really enjoyed the weirdness of Angie’s illustrated cards, and how they took on a life of their own. I would pay hideous amounts of money to own a set.
Smothermoss is the second weird novel set in Appalachia in a row for me (I read this immediately after Kay Chronister’s The Bog Wife) and I would absolutely read more of this particular genre. I really enjoyed the insular atmosphere, where any encroachment onto one’s land must be considered a threat above all else.
Alisa Alering joins my list of “must-read” authors. Smothermoss is an incredibly impressive debut.
