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Strange Folk
A woman returns to her estranged, magical family in Appalachia but when a man is found dead in the woods nearby, it seems the family has conjured something sinister in this lush, shimmering, and wildly imaginative debut novel that is perfect for fans of Alice Hoffman, Deborah Harkness, and Sarah Addison Allen.
Lee left Craw Valley at eighteen without a backward glance. She wanted no part of the generations of her family who tapped into the power of the land to heal and help their community. But when she abandons her new life in California and has nowhere else to go, Lee returns to Craw Valley with her children in tow to live with her grandmother, Belva.
Lee vows to stay far away from Belva’s world of magic, but when the target of one of her grandmother’s spells is discovered dead, Lee fears that Belva’s magic may have summoned something dark.
As she and her family search for answers, Lee travels down a rabbit hole of strange phenomena and family secrets that force her to reckon with herself and rediscover her power in order to protect her family and the town she couldn’t leave behind.
Lee left Craw Valley at eighteen without a backward glance. She wanted no part of the generations of her family who tapped into the power of the land to heal and help their community. But when she abandons her new life in California and has nowhere else to go, Lee returns to Craw Valley with her children in tow to live with her grandmother, Belva.
Lee vows to stay far away from Belva’s world of magic, but when the target of one of her grandmother’s spells is discovered dead, Lee fears that Belva’s magic may have summoned something dark.
As she and her family search for answers, Lee travels down a rabbit hole of strange phenomena and family secrets that force her to reckon with herself and rediscover her power in order to protect her family and the town she couldn’t leave behind.
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First published August 6, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 543 reviews
December 12, 2023
Looking back on my five-star reads, it's clear that I have a thing for books about families of witches – from
Practical Magic
to The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina, I love them all. Strange Folk, however, just might be my new favorite witchy novel of all time. It's magical and heart-warming and suspenseful and sad and wonderful, and I am totally all about it.
And the Appalachian setting? Yes, please! I spent my teenage years in Appalachia, and, like Lee, spent all of those years plotting to get away. When the book mentioned Lee practicing speaking without an accent in order to fit in better elsewhere, I figured she was pretty much my spirit animal. (I did the same, except that mine was an Appalachian/Southern hybrid, which was quite … drawly.) But, despite my desire to leave, I am absolutely obsessed with reading books set in the region. Perhaps because the people and personalities and places are so familiar? I dunno. But it's fantastic.
I adored the characters in this one, too. Lee is a great main character, but I think my favorite was probably Redbud – she has such a complex and strong personality, and I love the role she plays in the latter part of the book. Really, though, I think it's impossible to hate any of the characters in this novel … well, except the ones that you're supposed to dislike, of course.
I guess I should also admit that this book made me a little emotional. I'm not normally a crier when it comes to novels, and even I got a little teary-eyed at the end of this one. I don't even know why exactly since it's not a sad ending, but it was just all so perfect.
One thing that did confuse me a bit – this novel very much has two endings. I mean, not literally, of course, but it certainly felt like it. Around the 70% mark I was sure that the novel was wrapping up, and I was so confused because I was nowhere near the end according to my e-reader. There was the “climax” (but not really, I suppose) and then there was what felt like the winding down of the story, and then something else really big happened and things started back up again. It wasn't a bad thing (I didn't want it to stop even when I was at the real ending), but it was unexpected.
So, yeah. I feel like I haven't really even begun to do this book justice with my review, but it really is a delightful tale. If you like heart-warming yet suspenseful stories about magic, family ties, and (of course) witches, you should definitely give this one a read. 4.75 stars, rounded up.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review.
And the Appalachian setting? Yes, please! I spent my teenage years in Appalachia, and, like Lee, spent all of those years plotting to get away. When the book mentioned Lee practicing speaking without an accent in order to fit in better elsewhere, I figured she was pretty much my spirit animal. (I did the same, except that mine was an Appalachian/Southern hybrid, which was quite … drawly.) But, despite my desire to leave, I am absolutely obsessed with reading books set in the region. Perhaps because the people and personalities and places are so familiar? I dunno. But it's fantastic.
I adored the characters in this one, too. Lee is a great main character, but I think my favorite was probably Redbud – she has such a complex and strong personality, and I love the role she plays in the latter part of the book. Really, though, I think it's impossible to hate any of the characters in this novel … well, except the ones that you're supposed to dislike, of course.
I guess I should also admit that this book made me a little emotional. I'm not normally a crier when it comes to novels, and even I got a little teary-eyed at the end of this one. I don't even know why exactly since it's not a sad ending, but it was just all so perfect.
One thing that did confuse me a bit – this novel very much has two endings. I mean, not literally, of course, but it certainly felt like it. Around the 70% mark I was sure that the novel was wrapping up, and I was so confused because I was nowhere near the end according to my e-reader. There was the “climax” (but not really, I suppose) and then there was what felt like the winding down of the story, and then something else really big happened and things started back up again. It wasn't a bad thing (I didn't want it to stop even when I was at the real ending), but it was unexpected.
So, yeah. I feel like I haven't really even begun to do this book justice with my review, but it really is a delightful tale. If you like heart-warming yet suspenseful stories about magic, family ties, and (of course) witches, you should definitely give this one a read. 4.75 stars, rounded up.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review.
October 9, 2024
2 stars
A backwoods, witchy, atmospheric mountain magic tale.
The premise of this book really appealed to me. I love stories revolving around Appalachian small towns, especially ones with witchy elements and natural healing. The dark and foreboding atmosphere was palpable and one of the best parts of my reading experience.
The main characters were unique, well-developed and intriguing. I was invested in their situation for the first third of the book. This book carries some heavy themes of addiction, poverty, neglect and abuse, but it also showcases a strong nature focused theme which I loved.
This debut novel had a lot of potential but unfortunately after a promising start, it fell flat for me. It started off a lot stronger than it ended.
I guess I should have taken my cue from the title, Strange Folk, because strange is a great way to describe this story overall. I lost my connection by the halfway point when several scenes became too much for me to buy into. I’m not sure if the story should have had more editing to tighten up the plot or if this just comes down to a “me” problem. The author included random elements which felt completely out of place and the storyline lost its direction. I struggled with some unclear flashback scenes that had me confused with what timeline it was.
Overall, I loved the idea behind this book, but it didn’t work for me and I cannot recommend it. The best thing about it is the beautiful cover!
Thank you to the publisher for my review copy!
A backwoods, witchy, atmospheric mountain magic tale.
The premise of this book really appealed to me. I love stories revolving around Appalachian small towns, especially ones with witchy elements and natural healing. The dark and foreboding atmosphere was palpable and one of the best parts of my reading experience.
The main characters were unique, well-developed and intriguing. I was invested in their situation for the first third of the book. This book carries some heavy themes of addiction, poverty, neglect and abuse, but it also showcases a strong nature focused theme which I loved.
This debut novel had a lot of potential but unfortunately after a promising start, it fell flat for me. It started off a lot stronger than it ended.
I guess I should have taken my cue from the title, Strange Folk, because strange is a great way to describe this story overall. I lost my connection by the halfway point when several scenes became too much for me to buy into. I’m not sure if the story should have had more editing to tighten up the plot or if this just comes down to a “me” problem. The author included random elements which felt completely out of place and the storyline lost its direction. I struggled with some unclear flashback scenes that had me confused with what timeline it was.
Overall, I loved the idea behind this book, but it didn’t work for me and I cannot recommend it. The best thing about it is the beautiful cover!
Thank you to the publisher for my review copy!
June 30, 2024
Many thanks to the author, Alli Dyer, and Atria Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book. The publication date is set for August 06, 2024!
This story is set in the Appalachians, which is such a perfect setting. The mood of the book was just right. I especially enjoyed the mystery aspect; the suspense kept me engaged and made it a real page-turner. The ending had some surprising twists that really added depth to the story. Overall, it's a good book with complex characters, an intriguing title, and beautiful cover artwork.
What didn't I love? To be honest, I didn't connect with the characters as much as I would have liked. The storyline felt a bit choppy at times and lacked smooth transitions. I also wished there was more exploration of the magical elements. The concept is great, and I believe the story has a lot of potential. However, the execution fell short, making it more of an average read for me.
I'd give this one 3.5 stars, but for rating consistency, I'm rounding it down.
This story is set in the Appalachians, which is such a perfect setting. The mood of the book was just right. I especially enjoyed the mystery aspect; the suspense kept me engaged and made it a real page-turner. The ending had some surprising twists that really added depth to the story. Overall, it's a good book with complex characters, an intriguing title, and beautiful cover artwork.
What didn't I love? To be honest, I didn't connect with the characters as much as I would have liked. The storyline felt a bit choppy at times and lacked smooth transitions. I also wished there was more exploration of the magical elements. The concept is great, and I believe the story has a lot of potential. However, the execution fell short, making it more of an average read for me.
I'd give this one 3.5 stars, but for rating consistency, I'm rounding it down.
January 17, 2024
While I was excited for this book, things quickly fell apart. I am the type that if you give me a new world or magic system, I need it explained, and I do not think that happened in this book. The author did do a good job of creating a nice atmosphere, she failed to fully explain the rules and intricacies of the society. I also struggled with some of the subject matter, and I did struggle with the main character, really overall. I just didn’t like them, and while that works for me in some books, in this book it did not. I also felt that a lot was happing in this book, and it would have flowed better if the plot would have been tighter and the book shorter.
While I am a huge magic lover, especially Alice Hoffman as this write has been compared to, this one was a miss for me.
This book does deal with some heavy and potentially triggering topics so make sure you check that out beforehand.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
While I am a huge magic lover, especially Alice Hoffman as this write has been compared to, this one was a miss for me.
This book does deal with some heavy and potentially triggering topics so make sure you check that out beforehand.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
August 29, 2024
This story is told in third person and follows Lee as she moves her children Meredith and Cliff back to Craw Valley, where she grew up, into the home of Grandma Mama, her maternal grandmother Belva, temporarily while she waits for her divorce to settle. The Buck family is well known in the region for their ability to perform mountain magic, which manifests itself differently in each family member, some with foresight and others with more or less powerful magic.
When she was younger, Lee was excited to learn the family practice when she came of age, however, something happened that caused a rift between her mother and Belva and she was cut off from seeing her grandmother or learning the family craft. Feeling abandoned, Lee resolved to get out of Craw Valley at the first opportunity and never return, a sentiment that her mother encouraged. Now she’s back and as soon as she arrives, Belva is ready to pick up exactly where they left off, but Lee is unsure she wants to get involved and is hesitant to let either of her children learn. Since Meredith is now coming of age, she of course rebels against this and immediately starts pursuing her own endeavors. Cliff has already shown sensitivity to colors in personalities and some manifestations of foresight including dreams that are getting stronger as he ages.
As Lee renews acquaintances with family and friends, including an old flame, Otis, she realizes that there are strange happenings going on involving a dark flower that grows in the forest and is used as a symbol on the local moonshine and even tattooed on some of the locals. When her former teacher turns up dead after one of Belva’s rituals on their property, they are all questioned by the police. Then another body is found, and the family starts to believe there is a murderous malevolence in the forest that must be stopped. Are the murders being committed by a real person or a vengeful spirit?
This magical family had lots of drama going on from drug addiction to marital affairs, murder and just plain bad luck. Lee feels guilty for bringing her children into this mess, but they clearly start thriving amongst all of it and love it there, which she wasn’t expecting since she couldn’t wait to get away when she was their age. I found a lot to relate to in several of the characters and loved the story as all the complex family secrets unfurl along the way.
Recommended for the upcoming witchy season!
Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for a copy provided for an honest review.
When she was younger, Lee was excited to learn the family practice when she came of age, however, something happened that caused a rift between her mother and Belva and she was cut off from seeing her grandmother or learning the family craft. Feeling abandoned, Lee resolved to get out of Craw Valley at the first opportunity and never return, a sentiment that her mother encouraged. Now she’s back and as soon as she arrives, Belva is ready to pick up exactly where they left off, but Lee is unsure she wants to get involved and is hesitant to let either of her children learn. Since Meredith is now coming of age, she of course rebels against this and immediately starts pursuing her own endeavors. Cliff has already shown sensitivity to colors in personalities and some manifestations of foresight including dreams that are getting stronger as he ages.
As Lee renews acquaintances with family and friends, including an old flame, Otis, she realizes that there are strange happenings going on involving a dark flower that grows in the forest and is used as a symbol on the local moonshine and even tattooed on some of the locals. When her former teacher turns up dead after one of Belva’s rituals on their property, they are all questioned by the police. Then another body is found, and the family starts to believe there is a murderous malevolence in the forest that must be stopped. Are the murders being committed by a real person or a vengeful spirit?
This magical family had lots of drama going on from drug addiction to marital affairs, murder and just plain bad luck. Lee feels guilty for bringing her children into this mess, but they clearly start thriving amongst all of it and love it there, which she wasn’t expecting since she couldn’t wait to get away when she was their age. I found a lot to relate to in several of the characters and loved the story as all the complex family secrets unfurl along the way.
Recommended for the upcoming witchy season!
Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for a copy provided for an honest review.
February 1, 2024
A book about a family of witches who live in the mountains, draw power from nature, and learn how to cope with and process their generational trauma?!
I wanted to love this so badly; but there was just too much going on. Drug addiction, alcoholism, childhood trauma, divorce, pedophilia, romance(?), and murder. In trying to tackle so many topics , it came up flat.
Lee, a mother of two in the midst of a divorce, moves back to the hometown she was so desperate to escape twenty years ago; and from there proceeds to make decision after decision that doesn’t make sense. Partying, random sex in the woods with a man she hasn’t seen high school and seems to fall instantly in love with, etc. She wasn’t very likable as the main character.
The book also felt like it should have ended at the 80% mark; the other twist that came after that felt so unnecessary to the story.
The potential was there for this book; it just unfortunately didn’t reach it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I wanted to love this so badly; but there was just too much going on. Drug addiction, alcoholism, childhood trauma, divorce, pedophilia, romance(?), and murder. In trying to tackle so many topics , it came up flat.
Lee, a mother of two in the midst of a divorce, moves back to the hometown she was so desperate to escape twenty years ago; and from there proceeds to make decision after decision that doesn’t make sense. Partying, random sex in the woods with a man she hasn’t seen high school and seems to fall instantly in love with, etc. She wasn’t very likable as the main character.
The book also felt like it should have ended at the 80% mark; the other twist that came after that felt so unnecessary to the story.
The potential was there for this book; it just unfortunately didn’t reach it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 20, 2024
Magical realism, mountain magic, family magic, love and prosperity magic all mixed into a wonderful story of coming home and learning to love yourself.
# Strange Folk
# 8/20/2024 ~ 11/15/2024
# 5.0 / 5.0
# Strange Folk
# 8/20/2024 ~ 11/15/2024
# 5.0 / 5.0
November 1, 2024
idk how to feel but I do know that little cliff baby boy is going to be raised by like 20 women who teach him how to respect women and I’m excited about that for her lol
December 27, 2023
Strange Folk is the perfect title because this novel is full of them. The many generations of women in the Buck family have always practiced folk magic in a poor rural isolated mountain town in the southern United States. They do things like meet in the woods and burn the toenails clippings and hair of the people they don’t like while drinking moonshine and humming incantations. It leads to a whole lot of people dying from the evil magic.
The practice of dark magic and curses causes huge family fallouts too. Everyone in every generation of the family has some psychological problem like opiate addiction, alcoholism, domestic abuse, and general dysfunction and dissatisfaction with their lives. Lee, the main character, leaves for college but then moves back, dragging her young children into the exact lifestyle that she didn’t want them to have. Even by the end of the book, I didn’t understand Lee or why she chose to return.
The only likeable characters in the whole book were the little boy named Cliff and his great Uncle Billy. I thought I would like this book because the six other main characters were women of different ages, but the author made every single one of them unpleasant and problematic, and only the two male characters were kind and calm. That bothered me. It seemed anti-women in a book that purportedly was about strong women.
Also, and I know this is being petty, the constant use of the phrase “Grandma Mama” was irritating.
For me this was a two star read because I didn’t like it and forced myself to finish reading it. I didn’t care about what happened to anyone and I couldn’t connect emotionally with any of the characters. For Goodreads I am giving it three stars as I am certain there are readers who will revel in all the witchcraft and black magic of the story.
Thank you Netgalley for giving me a free e-ARC for review consideration.
The practice of dark magic and curses causes huge family fallouts too. Everyone in every generation of the family has some psychological problem like opiate addiction, alcoholism, domestic abuse, and general dysfunction and dissatisfaction with their lives. Lee, the main character, leaves for college but then moves back, dragging her young children into the exact lifestyle that she didn’t want them to have. Even by the end of the book, I didn’t understand Lee or why she chose to return.
The only likeable characters in the whole book were the little boy named Cliff and his great Uncle Billy. I thought I would like this book because the six other main characters were women of different ages, but the author made every single one of them unpleasant and problematic, and only the two male characters were kind and calm. That bothered me. It seemed anti-women in a book that purportedly was about strong women.
Also, and I know this is being petty, the constant use of the phrase “Grandma Mama” was irritating.
For me this was a two star read because I didn’t like it and forced myself to finish reading it. I didn’t care about what happened to anyone and I couldn’t connect emotionally with any of the characters. For Goodreads I am giving it three stars as I am certain there are readers who will revel in all the witchcraft and black magic of the story.
Thank you Netgalley for giving me a free e-ARC for review consideration.
July 24, 2024
I was really excited to read this book but that quickly changed. I thought this was a really hard book to get through. It felt disjointed and put together. Sometimes I felt like I was high because it kept jumping back and forth. It was hard to decipher what the magic system was and how it worked. This book just didn’t hit right with me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.
February 3, 2024
I enjoyed this book. I liked the dynamics of the family. It was a captivating story based on folk magic and Appalachian culture. You take the girl out of the mountains but you can’t take the mountains out of the girl. Just when you think the story is ending another twist has you enthralled and turning the pages. This book is a must read!
September 25, 2024
The beginning really grabbed my attention, but at around 45% the story became really disjointed and hard to follow. It had the makings to be a hit for me, but the characters were hard to connect with and the plot in general was choppy. I don’t think you’ll miss anything for skipping this one.
November 27, 2023
I received an ARC through NetGalley for an honest review. A atmospheric witches story woven with family trauma and steeped in generational magic.
This book has everything I live for in a book: mystery, love, heartbreak, spells, and even more magical writing.
I could not have loved this book any more.
This book has everything I live for in a book: mystery, love, heartbreak, spells, and even more magical writing.
I could not have loved this book any more.
March 14, 2024
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 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
August 10, 2024
Alli Dyer's Strange Folk is a compelling read that straddles the border between magical realism and horror with a bit of domestic drama thrown in as well. Readers learn at the beginning that Lee was born in a small Appalachian village into a family of folk healers, and who has spent most of her life trying to forget that community her family there.
Now on the brink of a divorce, Lee travels there from California so she and her children can live with Lee's grandmother Belva until the direction of their lives becomes clearer. Lee always loved Belva, but Lee's mother Redbud became an opioid addict when Lee was still young, she forcibly separated Lee and Belva, so Lee essentially grew up as a near-orphan.
There's magic afoot in this small community—magic both good and evil. Community members call on Belva in medical emergencies; her rituals can do what mainstream medicine can't and avoid the debt that those entering the mainstream medical system quickly accumulate. On the other hand, a sizable portion of the community is addicted to a local form of moonshine that induces hallucinations and that leads to all kids of disturbing, dangerous behavior.
There are also more worldly problems. A small proportion of the community's members are determined to make their village into a "destination," with malls, chain stores, and franchise restaurants. They're hungry for the money such capitalist development could bring.
More emphasis is given to the magic issue than the capitalist one, but the two play well off of each other. How much of either is real? How much is wishful thinking? Which represent genuine threats?
The story Dyer is telling is complicated, meaning readers have to get to know a variety of characters and experience a series this-could-be-the-resolution/wait-this-isn't-the-resolution-events. About two thirds of the way in, I had no idea how Dyer was going to spill out her story for that last third of pages, but she did it well.
This is a title that a wide range of readers will enjoy: fans of fantasy, of horror, of domestic dramas, of romance, of "women's fiction," and those with a liking for folklore and fairy tales.
(My one complaint is that a feral kitten appears in the first half of the novel—Lee's children want to make her a pet—and then doesn't appear again. What happened to the kitten?! Did Belva allow her grandchildren to keep it or did she make them return it to the wild? Seriously. Who give a kitten to readers early-on and then never mentions it again?)
I received an electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.
Now on the brink of a divorce, Lee travels there from California so she and her children can live with Lee's grandmother Belva until the direction of their lives becomes clearer. Lee always loved Belva, but Lee's mother Redbud became an opioid addict when Lee was still young, she forcibly separated Lee and Belva, so Lee essentially grew up as a near-orphan.
There's magic afoot in this small community—magic both good and evil. Community members call on Belva in medical emergencies; her rituals can do what mainstream medicine can't and avoid the debt that those entering the mainstream medical system quickly accumulate. On the other hand, a sizable portion of the community is addicted to a local form of moonshine that induces hallucinations and that leads to all kids of disturbing, dangerous behavior.
There are also more worldly problems. A small proportion of the community's members are determined to make their village into a "destination," with malls, chain stores, and franchise restaurants. They're hungry for the money such capitalist development could bring.
More emphasis is given to the magic issue than the capitalist one, but the two play well off of each other. How much of either is real? How much is wishful thinking? Which represent genuine threats?
The story Dyer is telling is complicated, meaning readers have to get to know a variety of characters and experience a series this-could-be-the-resolution/wait-this-isn't-the-resolution-events. About two thirds of the way in, I had no idea how Dyer was going to spill out her story for that last third of pages, but she did it well.
This is a title that a wide range of readers will enjoy: fans of fantasy, of horror, of domestic dramas, of romance, of "women's fiction," and those with a liking for folklore and fairy tales.
(My one complaint is that a feral kitten appears in the first half of the novel—Lee's children want to make her a pet—and then doesn't appear again. What happened to the kitten?! Did Belva allow her grandchildren to keep it or did she make them return it to the wild? Seriously. Who give a kitten to readers early-on and then never mentions it again?)
I received an electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.
January 26, 2024
First, I want to thank Alli Dyer for writing such a beautiful debut. Also thanks to Atria Books & NetGalley for providing this ARC.
Quick synopsis: we open with Lee (formerly Opaline) and her children, Meredith and Cliff, heading back to her hometown in the Appalachian Mountains. Lee hasn't been back since she left for college (with the intent never to return). Going through a divorce set her on a path to reconnect with her past, her traumas, her family, and herself. *Go read the blurb for the book - it gives a great summary*
NOW, for the book itself: I loved it. It was a slow read for me, but I found the characters relatable and interesting. I think Lee was hard to like at certain times but it was more because I felt as if I'd met versions of her before in some of my own relatives as well as in myself. She's a woman determined to protect herself and her children, but often that can come off as cold, distant, and a bit self-serving. I could write an entire review just based on the characters. Belva was the matron of my dreams with her bluntness, connection to the earth, and desire to pass on the family legacy. I understood the anger certain characters held for her, but I think I would have forgiven her without qualms. I could go on - Uncle Billy, Cliff, Meredith, TJ, Kimmie, Otis, Redbud.. I didn't LIKE them all, but they worked well how they were written.
My favorite part of the story was the magic. It was tied explicitly to the land which rings true for Appalachian lore - I also really enjoyed that (for the most part) magic was cooperative further pushing the broken/traumatized family to reunite. I loved the verbalization of what was desired, followed by the humming, the magic growing in intensity with the power and emotion, then the collapse at the end after the magic released.
There was this weird moment (that I will not describe further because main plot point) - I 100% thought the book was about to be over..but I was only about 3/4 of the way done. It felt weird, but honestly, I wasn't mad to have a little more time with the characters although the secondary plot point was jarring and felt more rushed. I would have like to see more development there.
I could really go on - I truly enjoyed this read and look forward to what Alli Dyer will write next.
Quick synopsis: we open with Lee (formerly Opaline) and her children, Meredith and Cliff, heading back to her hometown in the Appalachian Mountains. Lee hasn't been back since she left for college (with the intent never to return). Going through a divorce set her on a path to reconnect with her past, her traumas, her family, and herself. *Go read the blurb for the book - it gives a great summary*
NOW, for the book itself: I loved it. It was a slow read for me, but I found the characters relatable and interesting. I think Lee was hard to like at certain times but it was more because I felt as if I'd met versions of her before in some of my own relatives as well as in myself. She's a woman determined to protect herself and her children, but often that can come off as cold, distant, and a bit self-serving. I could write an entire review just based on the characters. Belva was the matron of my dreams with her bluntness, connection to the earth, and desire to pass on the family legacy. I understood the anger certain characters held for her, but I think I would have forgiven her without qualms. I could go on - Uncle Billy, Cliff, Meredith, TJ, Kimmie, Otis, Redbud.. I didn't LIKE them all, but they worked well how they were written.
My favorite part of the story was the magic. It was tied explicitly to the land which rings true for Appalachian lore - I also really enjoyed that (for the most part) magic was cooperative further pushing the broken/traumatized family to reunite. I loved the verbalization of what was desired, followed by the humming, the magic growing in intensity with the power and emotion, then the collapse at the end after the magic released.
There was this weird moment (that I will not describe further because main plot point) - I 100% thought the book was about to be over..but I was only about 3/4 of the way done. It felt weird, but honestly, I wasn't mad to have a little more time with the characters although the secondary plot point was jarring and felt more rushed. I would have like to see more development there.
I could really go on - I truly enjoyed this read and look forward to what Alli Dyer will write next.
March 21, 2024
This was great! In a weird way it is a coming of age for a mother, daughter, grandmother and great grandmother. It’s like the family line got all weird witchy and the point of the book was to get right witchy. Very Appalachian. Loved that the story fully resolved and not in an extreme way but very natural. Would recommend and would read again. Can’t believe this is an author’s debut- it read like a much more mature book and if you are doing 52 challenge for 2024 this meets the debut in second half challenge.
August 3, 2024
2.5 ⭐️ rounded up
This book was well-written, but nothing in it ever enraptured me.. I didn’t necessarily finish it because I wanted to. I just did because I kept hoping for it to catch my attention. This book was darker than I anticipated it to be, and I think maybe I just wasn’t in the mood for that? Idk. I see why so many people have given it good reviews—it’s def not a bad book, just not the book for me and that’s okay.
Strange Folk is centered around the Buck family in the rural town of Craw Valley in the Appalachian mountains. Opaline (Lee) grew up there but left for college and never looked back.. until she started the process of divorcing her husband. Lee brought he kids Meredith and Cliff to her grandmother Belva’s house in the remote town. From there, we start to see the intricacies of the familial relationships within the Buck family and let me tell you it is VARIED. There’s a lot going on and a lot to unpack, but it didn’t feel like it got fleshed out enough in the pages of this book. I needed this to either hone in on just a couple of the people’s stories to tell or be a longer book so we got a little more information. Also lacking in explanation was the magic here. I’m honestly so confused on how it works here. I need some kind of explanation to hold on to. In a fantasy book, I understand having to take the author for their word, but here, I don’t feel like Dyer gave us enough words to actually grasp what was happening.
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria for an ARC of this book!
This book was well-written, but nothing in it ever enraptured me.. I didn’t necessarily finish it because I wanted to. I just did because I kept hoping for it to catch my attention. This book was darker than I anticipated it to be, and I think maybe I just wasn’t in the mood for that? Idk. I see why so many people have given it good reviews—it’s def not a bad book, just not the book for me and that’s okay.
Strange Folk is centered around the Buck family in the rural town of Craw Valley in the Appalachian mountains. Opaline (Lee) grew up there but left for college and never looked back.. until she started the process of divorcing her husband. Lee brought he kids Meredith and Cliff to her grandmother Belva’s house in the remote town. From there, we start to see the intricacies of the familial relationships within the Buck family and let me tell you it is VARIED. There’s a lot going on and a lot to unpack, but it didn’t feel like it got fleshed out enough in the pages of this book. I needed this to either hone in on just a couple of the people’s stories to tell or be a longer book so we got a little more information. Also lacking in explanation was the magic here. I’m honestly so confused on how it works here. I need some kind of explanation to hold on to. In a fantasy book, I understand having to take the author for their word, but here, I don’t feel like Dyer gave us enough words to actually grasp what was happening.
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria for an ARC of this book!
September 4, 2024
⭐️: 4
🌶️: 1
🌿 magical realism
🖤 generational witches
🌿 small town Appalachia
🖤 second-chance romance
🌿 multiple POV
I was ready to kick off September with a witchy, spooky read and this absolutely delivered. The story was original and well written, allowing the reader to truly envision every aspect. I felt as though I knew every nook and cranny of Belva’s home and garden. The magic wasn’t reinventing the wheel by any means, but different enough that I found myself interested in everyone’s individual strengths. The rekindled love interest was also a nice touch, coming from a romance reader.
I did have one gripe with this book and it was that the story nearly concluded around the 75% mark. I couldn’t believe I had nearly ten more chapters to read and honesty had to force myself to keep going. I had enjoyed the story up until that point and would have been happy with how it had ended. I was however happy that I kept going because the final 25% of the book was still magical and offered even more twists and turns. Perhaps there’s something to say about the pacing and the order of the narrative, but I’m sure there are readers that would enjoy a final unexpected twist right when you think the story is resolved.
🌶️ = closed door
♥︎ Thank you NetGalley, Atria Books and Alli Dyer for the ARC of Strange Folk
🌶️: 1
🌿 magical realism
🖤 generational witches
🌿 small town Appalachia
🖤 second-chance romance
🌿 multiple POV
I was ready to kick off September with a witchy, spooky read and this absolutely delivered. The story was original and well written, allowing the reader to truly envision every aspect. I felt as though I knew every nook and cranny of Belva’s home and garden. The magic wasn’t reinventing the wheel by any means, but different enough that I found myself interested in everyone’s individual strengths. The rekindled love interest was also a nice touch, coming from a romance reader.
I did have one gripe with this book and it was that the story nearly concluded around the 75% mark. I couldn’t believe I had nearly ten more chapters to read and honesty had to force myself to keep going. I had enjoyed the story up until that point and would have been happy with how it had ended. I was however happy that I kept going because the final 25% of the book was still magical and offered even more twists and turns. Perhaps there’s something to say about the pacing and the order of the narrative, but I’m sure there are readers that would enjoy a final unexpected twist right when you think the story is resolved.
🌶️ = closed door
♥︎ Thank you NetGalley, Atria Books and Alli Dyer for the ARC of Strange Folk
September 8, 2025
What starts out as a family escape from a failing relationship ends out with full on gatherings with hands joined and power screams, and feet taking root. Yes, witchy-ness is here. It goes a little over the top, but I loved it that several generations are involved - if one is going to write about family, include all the layers and this author did. Little Cliff is a super power, and so is Meredith!
No more from me, but buckle-up, Buttercup - this read is a free-range world of witches with spells, and a trunkful of magical weapons. (I must admit I expected to hear about Sam and Dean W. driving up in Baby.)
*A sincere thank you to Alli Dyer, Atria Books, NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.*
No more from me, but buckle-up, Buttercup - this read is a free-range world of witches with spells, and a trunkful of magical weapons. (I must admit I expected to hear about Sam and Dean W. driving up in Baby.)
*A sincere thank you to Alli Dyer, Atria Books, NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.*
August 23, 2025
Strange Folk has a lovely writing style and beautiful descriptive passages. It’s an original take on the ‘folk’ genre, a folk/fantasy/mystery. So why three stars? There’s so much unused potential. It’s too much of a slow burn, the story dragged at times. And the characters are a bit bland, lacking full dimensionality. I was also hoping for a bit more ‘strange’. Maybe a bit more magic explanation. More world-building. Yes, it’s contemporary, but there is a world of magic here that definitely needs more exploration. That being said, I would try something else that Ms. Dyer has written.
July 21, 2024
I have some mixed feelings about this one.
On one hand, I did find the story very absorbing. I enjoyed the writing style and the development of the story. I like the overall message of healing by returning to your roots and embracing your "strange."
On the other hand, I didn't connect with any of the characters; they are almost all very toxic, and there is a lot of trauma and substance abuse. At times, the story feels choppy, and I feel like it crosses the bridge a little too far between magical realism and outright fantasy without really fitting into either category. Some resolutions felt too easy or convenient.
I loved the overall witchy vibe, but some of the "folk magic" practices and spells just went a little too far for me.
There were some twists and turns I didn't see coming, and I did find the story very readable as I finished it within a day or two. The scene setting in this book was excellent, and it did have a lot of charm.
I would also warn that it dives into some pretty heavy topics without much forewarning.
𝓣𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓴𝓼 𝓽𝓸 𝓝𝓮𝓽𝓰𝓪𝓵𝓵𝓮𝔂 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓐𝓽𝓻𝓲𝓪 𝓑𝓸𝓸𝓴𝓼 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓪𝓷 𝓐𝓡𝓒 𝓸𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓫𝓸𝓸𝓴 𝓲𝓷 𝓮𝔁𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓰𝓮 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓪𝓷 𝓱𝓸𝓷𝓮𝓼𝓽 𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀.
On one hand, I did find the story very absorbing. I enjoyed the writing style and the development of the story. I like the overall message of healing by returning to your roots and embracing your "strange."
On the other hand, I didn't connect with any of the characters; they are almost all very toxic, and there is a lot of trauma and substance abuse. At times, the story feels choppy, and I feel like it crosses the bridge a little too far between magical realism and outright fantasy without really fitting into either category. Some resolutions felt too easy or convenient.
I loved the overall witchy vibe, but some of the "folk magic" practices and spells just went a little too far for me.
There were some twists and turns I didn't see coming, and I did find the story very readable as I finished it within a day or two. The scene setting in this book was excellent, and it did have a lot of charm.
I would also warn that it dives into some pretty heavy topics without much forewarning.
𝓣𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓴𝓼 𝓽𝓸 𝓝𝓮𝓽𝓰𝓪𝓵𝓵𝓮𝔂 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓐𝓽𝓻𝓲𝓪 𝓑𝓸𝓸𝓴𝓼 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓪𝓷 𝓐𝓡𝓒 𝓸𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓫𝓸𝓸𝓴 𝓲𝓷 𝓮𝔁𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓰𝓮 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓪𝓷 𝓱𝓸𝓷𝓮𝓼𝓽 𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀.
February 20, 2024
2.5 Stars rounded down to 2.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced copy.
Lee is leaving her toxic marriage and she's taking the kids and herself to the refuge of her grandmother in the Craw Valley, which is somewhere in Appalachia. When she arrives tension starts between her and her daughter, she had told her kids that her family was dead. However, the kids settle in nicely making the move from their comfortable life in California to impoverished and rural living seamlessly. Lee is the one struggling and her alcoholism isn't helping. She spirals further into her addiction discovering a weird link between the local moonshine and a couple of murders.
A lot of the events in this book seemed really forced. Dyer focused on the strain between Lee and her daughter for what seemed like the sole purpose of continuing the mother-daughter generational trauma link. Lee herself has a strained relationship with her mother, Redbud, due to Redbud's addiction that started with prescription pills (likely oxy based on the timeline). Redbud and her mother, Belva, have a strained relationship due to Redbud blaming Belva's magic use for the death of Redbud's husband. All of this leads to Lee banning her own daughter, Merideth, from learning about her link to magic and how to use it, which causes even more strain. However, both children have literally no issue leaving their entire life behind. Merideth is around 15 (in high school at least) and you would think that she would be somewhat upset about leaving behind friends, her own room, her school etc. But she really just gets upset about never having been told about the family and immediately falls in love with the rural setting. Cliff, Lee's son, is in middle school - though he is constantly treated and referred to as if he is around 8 - also falls in love with the place and is super happy sharing a room with his sister. Neither kid once mentions their friends or missing home or any of the luxuries they had. Merideth even comments later on her privileged and soft her father is, but like she grew up being raised by his trust fund and living his wealthy privileged life, she'd been in the rural world like a month.
The intergenerational trauma could be a decent set up and could make for a good story all in it's own, but we had to add in the murder mystery aspect. The murders get pinned on Belva and Lee starts to think she might have done them. This results in Lee doing a bunch of investigation and basically ignoring her children. All Lee can figure is that they're linked through the moonshine that she's now drinking constantly. Her form of investigating though is just to accuse a person she doesn't like and force the weaker in personality characters to help her prove it was that person. Honestly, super contrived that at least one of them would have helped her, the other seems to just do what she asks whenever she asks.
Lee is very unlikeable and not just because of the alcoholism. She has an air of superiority, while simultaneously sticking to her "I was born and raised here" roots. She gets called out by a couple of characters for this, them saying she never wanted to be here and asking her why she even came back. Something she reflects on very minimally and we are never shown an answer to. She treats other characters as if they are solely there to serve her, which makes it difficult to really get invested in anything that happens to anyone. Even the love interest just feels like a paper cut out and I had zero feelings about their relationship that weren't "well, this doesn't make any sense." She judges everyone for their situation and culture while benefiting from it. She feels entitled to a place in Belva's home so much that she fails to see the generosity of her family and is only annoyed that they behave the way they do.
My smallest qualm is that this book could have been set nearly anywhere in rural America. The Appalachian setting wasn't hardly used at all, only the mountains for background for characters to stare off toward. The story of corporations moving in and making everything part of the big box world, pushing out small business, and resulting in new people moving in is a story widespread. Moonshine makers exist everywhere that is rural, pharmaceutical addictions, alcoholism, poverty are everywhere. I really would have liked to have had the location built in more if we were really focusing on where the story was set.
There was also a small throwaway paragraph at the end about how Lee's family can trace themselves back to the Cherokee and how the African slaves were brought over against their will and "had babies with" the "Scotch-Irish" and how all of these beliefs formed the magical rituals of Lee's family. It just felt very ignorant at best to be included the way it was, because it was completely unnecessary to the story. There were some other lines that struck me as weird such as "a woman with the energy of an unmarried aunt" what does that even mean? I really hope some of these are removed before publication.
Lastly, I was really bothered by how much trauma for the sake of trauma was included. Everyone's backstory is littered with murder and abuse and assault and it is just half-heartedly mentioned. . This felt like a "let's throw everything bad at women we can to make them bitter and angry. Oh, but look at my soft gentle boys, they'd never be part of this!"
Content warnings: alcoholism, drug addiction, enabling, death of a parent
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced copy.
Lee is leaving her toxic marriage and she's taking the kids and herself to the refuge of her grandmother in the Craw Valley, which is somewhere in Appalachia. When she arrives tension starts between her and her daughter, she had told her kids that her family was dead. However, the kids settle in nicely making the move from their comfortable life in California to impoverished and rural living seamlessly. Lee is the one struggling and her alcoholism isn't helping. She spirals further into her addiction discovering a weird link between the local moonshine and a couple of murders.
A lot of the events in this book seemed really forced. Dyer focused on the strain between Lee and her daughter for what seemed like the sole purpose of continuing the mother-daughter generational trauma link. Lee herself has a strained relationship with her mother, Redbud, due to Redbud's addiction that started with prescription pills (likely oxy based on the timeline). Redbud and her mother, Belva, have a strained relationship due to Redbud blaming Belva's magic use for the death of Redbud's husband. All of this leads to Lee banning her own daughter, Merideth, from learning about her link to magic and how to use it, which causes even more strain. However, both children have literally no issue leaving their entire life behind. Merideth is around 15 (in high school at least) and you would think that she would be somewhat upset about leaving behind friends, her own room, her school etc. But she really just gets upset about never having been told about the family and immediately falls in love with the rural setting. Cliff, Lee's son, is in middle school - though he is constantly treated and referred to as if he is around 8 - also falls in love with the place and is super happy sharing a room with his sister. Neither kid once mentions their friends or missing home or any of the luxuries they had. Merideth even comments later on her privileged and soft her father is, but like she grew up being raised by his trust fund and living his wealthy privileged life, she'd been in the rural world like a month.
The intergenerational trauma could be a decent set up and could make for a good story all in it's own, but we had to add in the murder mystery aspect. The murders get pinned on Belva and Lee starts to think she might have done them. This results in Lee doing a bunch of investigation and basically ignoring her children. All Lee can figure is that they're linked through the moonshine that she's now drinking constantly. Her form of investigating though is just to accuse a person she doesn't like and force the weaker in personality characters to help her prove it was that person. Honestly, super contrived that at least one of them would have helped her, the other seems to just do what she asks whenever she asks.
Lee is very unlikeable and not just because of the alcoholism. She has an air of superiority, while simultaneously sticking to her "I was born and raised here" roots. She gets called out by a couple of characters for this, them saying she never wanted to be here and asking her why she even came back. Something she reflects on very minimally and we are never shown an answer to. She treats other characters as if they are solely there to serve her, which makes it difficult to really get invested in anything that happens to anyone. Even the love interest just feels like a paper cut out and I had zero feelings about their relationship that weren't "well, this doesn't make any sense." She judges everyone for their situation and culture while benefiting from it. She feels entitled to a place in Belva's home so much that she fails to see the generosity of her family and is only annoyed that they behave the way they do.
My smallest qualm is that this book could have been set nearly anywhere in rural America. The Appalachian setting wasn't hardly used at all, only the mountains for background for characters to stare off toward. The story of corporations moving in and making everything part of the big box world, pushing out small business, and resulting in new people moving in is a story widespread. Moonshine makers exist everywhere that is rural, pharmaceutical addictions, alcoholism, poverty are everywhere. I really would have liked to have had the location built in more if we were really focusing on where the story was set.
There was also a small throwaway paragraph at the end about how Lee's family can trace themselves back to the Cherokee and how the African slaves were brought over against their will and "had babies with" the "Scotch-Irish" and how all of these beliefs formed the magical rituals of Lee's family. It just felt very ignorant at best to be included the way it was, because it was completely unnecessary to the story. There were some other lines that struck me as weird such as "a woman with the energy of an unmarried aunt" what does that even mean? I really hope some of these are removed before publication.
Lastly, I was really bothered by how much trauma for the sake of trauma was included. Everyone's backstory is littered with murder and abuse and assault and it is just half-heartedly mentioned. . This felt like a "let's throw everything bad at women we can to make them bitter and angry. Oh, but look at my soft gentle boys, they'd never be part of this!"
Content warnings: alcoholism, drug addiction, enabling, death of a parent
November 25, 2023
“There is power in the land, and when we need it, we can call upon it humbly and respectfully. That is at the core of the work. We must respect and feed the land, so that it may feed us.”
“As she flipped through the pages, new spells cropped up—ones that Belva invented herself. Mixed in with these spells were diary entries and observations about the weather and the nature around her. Lee could see the evolution of a new spell through the diary entries that served as inspiration, then the need arising, and the formation of it through notes about plants and ideas for wording. Finally, there was the spell itself, which Belva liked to copy down word for word and enshrine on its own page. The spoken words of a spell took many forms—they could be like poems, or stories, or sometimes they were merely Bible verses. Belva’s spells were more intricate and imaginative than the older ones, and sometimes they used more modern materials like Dr. Pepper and pantyhose that she would have had lying around. This was a cornerstone of the work—you could make magic with whatever you had, no matter how meager.”
Special thanks to the author and NetGalley for an ARC 🩵
This was so phenomenally written and an easy 5 ⭐️ for me. The multigenerational aspect and point of views were done so so well. The descriptions of everything made it so easy to get truly lost in the pages of the story. Has a magical/witchy, superstitious, and mysterious vibe with a heavy dose of spells and family trauma. Will def be buying a copy for my physical book shelf.
“As she flipped through the pages, new spells cropped up—ones that Belva invented herself. Mixed in with these spells were diary entries and observations about the weather and the nature around her. Lee could see the evolution of a new spell through the diary entries that served as inspiration, then the need arising, and the formation of it through notes about plants and ideas for wording. Finally, there was the spell itself, which Belva liked to copy down word for word and enshrine on its own page. The spoken words of a spell took many forms—they could be like poems, or stories, or sometimes they were merely Bible verses. Belva’s spells were more intricate and imaginative than the older ones, and sometimes they used more modern materials like Dr. Pepper and pantyhose that she would have had lying around. This was a cornerstone of the work—you could make magic with whatever you had, no matter how meager.”
Special thanks to the author and NetGalley for an ARC 🩵
This was so phenomenally written and an easy 5 ⭐️ for me. The multigenerational aspect and point of views were done so so well. The descriptions of everything made it so easy to get truly lost in the pages of the story. Has a magical/witchy, superstitious, and mysterious vibe with a heavy dose of spells and family trauma. Will def be buying a copy for my physical book shelf.
November 19, 2023
The author grew up in Virginia, in Appalachia, and her description, though often overblown and somehow inappropriately described, give you a sense of the setting. Lee, formerly known as Opaline, has left here for college and never returned. Her mother was an alcoholic and drug addict. Her grandmother, Belva, was a folk medicine practitioner who also dabbled in the spells and magic that is rooted in the ground itself and handed down from the generations of people who lived there and interbred with the Cherokees who were native to the land.
There is something frightening and suspenseful about what happens to Lee and her children when they come back. There is dark evil, moonshine and drug dealing, and also a man Lee loved in high school. The book tries to be both a mystery and a history of the area. Who is responsible for the death of the high school English teacher? And who killed the local drug dealer? In order to get to the answer, you have to suffer through a whole lot of spell casting and group humming (is that really a thing?). Though none of it really makes very much sense, there is an atmosphere created that some might enjoy. There are some odd goings on that create an atmosphere of magical occurrences and some chills as Lee figures out what to do with her life. But the answer, for me, was unsatisfying. No Alice Hoffman or Sarah Addison Allen is Ali Dyer.
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the Arc copy.
There is something frightening and suspenseful about what happens to Lee and her children when they come back. There is dark evil, moonshine and drug dealing, and also a man Lee loved in high school. The book tries to be both a mystery and a history of the area. Who is responsible for the death of the high school English teacher? And who killed the local drug dealer? In order to get to the answer, you have to suffer through a whole lot of spell casting and group humming (is that really a thing?). Though none of it really makes very much sense, there is an atmosphere created that some might enjoy. There are some odd goings on that create an atmosphere of magical occurrences and some chills as Lee figures out what to do with her life. But the answer, for me, was unsatisfying. No Alice Hoffman or Sarah Addison Allen is Ali Dyer.
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the Arc copy.
May 19, 2024
3.5 Stars
When Lee left Craw Valley, she never had intentions of returning there, but when her marriage fell apart, she, along with their two children, left what was once their home in California, and headed back to the only place she could, even though she hadn’t been in touch with her family there in ages.
She was happy to leave there, leaving behind the memories of their fascination with magic, which she plans to stay far away from, and she definitely wants to keep her children far away from it, as well.
Set in the Appalachian Mountains, this was one strange story at times, but there is such a sense of connection for this family with the land, nature, and the power of nature to heal, as well. The longer they stay there, the more Lee and her children are exposed to strange events that continue to happen, and the more Lee recognizes that she must believe in herself more in order to save herself and her family.
Pub Date: 06 Aug 2024
Many thanks for the ARC provided by Atria Books
When Lee left Craw Valley, she never had intentions of returning there, but when her marriage fell apart, she, along with their two children, left what was once their home in California, and headed back to the only place she could, even though she hadn’t been in touch with her family there in ages.
She was happy to leave there, leaving behind the memories of their fascination with magic, which she plans to stay far away from, and she definitely wants to keep her children far away from it, as well.
Set in the Appalachian Mountains, this was one strange story at times, but there is such a sense of connection for this family with the land, nature, and the power of nature to heal, as well. The longer they stay there, the more Lee and her children are exposed to strange events that continue to happen, and the more Lee recognizes that she must believe in herself more in order to save herself and her family.
Pub Date: 06 Aug 2024
Many thanks for the ARC provided by Atria Books
November 9, 2023
I absolutely adore a good book set in Appalachia! This book was magical and thrilling at the same time, and I adored every minute.
October 4, 2024
I love a good witchy read in the fall. The setting being a small town in rural Appalachia with a history of folk magic and trouble gave me the perfect atmosphere. We get to see several of the women's perspectives over the course of this book and they are all woven together.
This is one of those books that you can just picture in your head as it's going on. The magic system was very easy to grasp but I wished we would have gotten to explore it a little more. We get glimpses here and there of them actually performing but mostly it's just talk about having magic in general.
The plot did take me a minute to fully get into but once the mystery aspect of it really amped up I was hooked. Dyer throws in twists in a slow way that gives you time to really absorb them. There was one point where I though the book was about to be over and then we slowly get thrown back in to another mystery. I really liked that we got to spend a little more time with this family and seeing them connect. Huge found family vibes going on.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4. This was a good read and I did enjoy listening to it but it did just feel a little slow and longer than it needed to be. There was a lot to follow along with at times and many characters are introduced so it took a minute to remember who was who. The setting and mystery were the main things I connected with but the characters fell a little flat.
This is one of those books that you can just picture in your head as it's going on. The magic system was very easy to grasp but I wished we would have gotten to explore it a little more. We get glimpses here and there of them actually performing but mostly it's just talk about having magic in general.
The plot did take me a minute to fully get into but once the mystery aspect of it really amped up I was hooked. Dyer throws in twists in a slow way that gives you time to really absorb them. There was one point where I though the book was about to be over and then we slowly get thrown back in to another mystery. I really liked that we got to spend a little more time with this family and seeing them connect. Huge found family vibes going on.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4. This was a good read and I did enjoy listening to it but it did just feel a little slow and longer than it needed to be. There was a lot to follow along with at times and many characters are introduced so it took a minute to remember who was who. The setting and mystery were the main things I connected with but the characters fell a little flat.
January 31, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
𝘼 𝙬𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙙, 𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙛𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝘼𝙥𝙥𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙖, 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙟𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙢𝙖𝙮 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧.
I’m not a big fantasy reader - as some people may know - but I really enjoyed this book. I honestly set low expectations as I’m also not the biggest fan of witches, but the family aspect in this was so interesting.
This was an atmospheric story about a family with trauma and generational magic. The writing was so beautiful and lyrical. I also loved the mystery element in this book.
The Appalachian setting in this was phenomenal, it had me so fascinated and excited to continue reading it. Most of the characters in this were likable too and I enjoyed how intense the story was. I also loved the way the ending wrapped up the book.
The prose in this was so immersive and I haven’t read a beautiful story like this in so long. I loved the way this author told this story and I’m honestly surprised by how much I enjoyed this.
This one doesn’t come out until August, but it’s definitely worth the wait. It was a great magical story with witches and magic!
Thank you so much NetGalley and Atria Books for the review copy in exchange for my honest review!
𝘼 𝙬𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙙, 𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙛𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝘼𝙥𝙥𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙖, 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙟𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙢𝙖𝙮 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧.
I’m not a big fantasy reader - as some people may know - but I really enjoyed this book. I honestly set low expectations as I’m also not the biggest fan of witches, but the family aspect in this was so interesting.
This was an atmospheric story about a family with trauma and generational magic. The writing was so beautiful and lyrical. I also loved the mystery element in this book.
The Appalachian setting in this was phenomenal, it had me so fascinated and excited to continue reading it. Most of the characters in this were likable too and I enjoyed how intense the story was. I also loved the way the ending wrapped up the book.
The prose in this was so immersive and I haven’t read a beautiful story like this in so long. I loved the way this author told this story and I’m honestly surprised by how much I enjoyed this.
This one doesn’t come out until August, but it’s definitely worth the wait. It was a great magical story with witches and magic!
Thank you so much NetGalley and Atria Books for the review copy in exchange for my honest review!
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