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The Unmothers
In this emotionally raw and propulsive folk horror-mystery, a journalist goes to a small town and unravels a dark secret that the women have been keeping for generations.
Marshall is still trying to put the pieces together after the death of her husband. After she is involved in a terrible accident, her editor sends her to the small, backwards town of Raeford to investigate a clearly ridiculous rumor: that a horse has given birth to a healthy, human baby boy.
When Marshall arrives in Raeford, she finds an insular town that is kinder to the horses they are famous for breeding than to their own people. But when two horribly mangled bodies are discovered in a field—one a horse, one a human—she realizes that there might be a real story here.
As she’s pulled deeper into the town and its guarded people, her sense of reality is tipped on its head. Is she losing her grip? Or is this impossible story the key to a dark secret that has haunted the women of Raeford for generations?
Unbearably tense and utterly gripping, this atmospheric tale of female rage, bodily autonomy, and generational trauma hails the arrival of a masterful storyteller.
Marshall is still trying to put the pieces together after the death of her husband. After she is involved in a terrible accident, her editor sends her to the small, backwards town of Raeford to investigate a clearly ridiculous rumor: that a horse has given birth to a healthy, human baby boy.
When Marshall arrives in Raeford, she finds an insular town that is kinder to the horses they are famous for breeding than to their own people. But when two horribly mangled bodies are discovered in a field—one a horse, one a human—she realizes that there might be a real story here.
As she’s pulled deeper into the town and its guarded people, her sense of reality is tipped on its head. Is she losing her grip? Or is this impossible story the key to a dark secret that has haunted the women of Raeford for generations?
Unbearably tense and utterly gripping, this atmospheric tale of female rage, bodily autonomy, and generational trauma hails the arrival of a masterful storyteller.
320 pages, Paperback
First published August 6, 2024
About the author
Leslie J. Anderson
23 books54 followersLeslie J. Anderson’s writing has appeared in Asimov’s, Uncanny Magazine, Strange Horizons, Daily Science Fiction, and Apex, to name a few. She writes for the popular podcast The CryptoNaturalist. She also hosts and produces Cartoon Crosstalk Columbus for Cartoon Crossroads Columbus.
Her collection of poetry, An Inheritance of Stone, was released from Alliteration Ink and was nominated for an Elgin award. Poems from it have won 2nd place in the Asimov’s Reader’s Awards, and were nominated for Pushcart and Rhysling award.
Leslie has a Creative Writing MA from Ohio University and currently works as a marketing and communications manager for a financial consulting firm. She lives in Ohio in a small, white house beside a cemetery, with three good dogs and a Roomba.
Her collection of poetry, An Inheritance of Stone, was released from Alliteration Ink and was nominated for an Elgin award. Poems from it have won 2nd place in the Asimov’s Reader’s Awards, and were nominated for Pushcart and Rhysling award.
Leslie has a Creative Writing MA from Ohio University and currently works as a marketing and communications manager for a financial consulting firm. She lives in Ohio in a small, white house beside a cemetery, with three good dogs and a Roomba.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 281 reviews
September 11, 2024
Finally, a book for horse girls that hate men
August 22, 2024
In the wake of her husband’s tragic death, newspaper reporter Marshall is given a clear softball assignment: travel to the tiny town of Raeford and investigate claims that a horse has given birth to a human child. Everyone at the paper knows it’s a hoax. It’s an oddball human interest piece, at best. But upon arriving in the isolated community, Marshall can’t help but feel that something is off. The locals are intensely guarded. There are strange local traditions no one will explain, like bowls of milk placed on tombstones at the graveyard. Worst of all is the screeching sound seemingly coming from inside the walls of her hotel room. It doesn’t take long for Marshall to realize this town is keeping secrets…big ones.
I loved this book. It was full of surprising twists, and the ominous vibe throughout the book kept me at the edge of my seat. It also had a surprising feminist message, pointing to real concerns about reproductive care in rural American communities. The sense of place in this book is so strong, and I could vividly picture the setting. It paints a picture of an odd, isolated community without stereotyping or demeaning the characters living there. I would absolutely recommend this one to horror fans. I had a great time reading it!
I loved this book. It was full of surprising twists, and the ominous vibe throughout the book kept me at the edge of my seat. It also had a surprising feminist message, pointing to real concerns about reproductive care in rural American communities. The sense of place in this book is so strong, and I could vividly picture the setting. It paints a picture of an odd, isolated community without stereotyping or demeaning the characters living there. I would absolutely recommend this one to horror fans. I had a great time reading it!
July 19, 2024
got this as an ARC and i'm so glad i was able to get my hands on it early because it was a THOROUGHLY enjoyable read! really impressive not only as a work of horror but also especially impressive given that it's the author's debut - leslie anderson is definitely one to watch!
i told basically everyone i knew about this while i was reading it and i have to say, getting to chant "horse horror horse horror horse horror" at people is extremely fun. i looooved that this was a horror book for horse girls because oh my god that is a niche i need more of?? also just did a fantastic job of exploring the ecology of small towns and how interwoven everyone's lives. while i can usually take or leave a lot of POVs, this worked really well to showcase the story from every angle and highlight the complex plot threads. the town almost takes on a life of its own, with the monster from the woods acting as a personification of the poverty and generational trauma that haunts everyone living there. it's just so well done and i am SO IMPRESSED.
reads super easily - it's just mystery/thriller enough to make it hard to put down while keeping the harsher edge of horror. the character development flows really well, too, in an almost untraceable arc - i went back to the beginning after finishing so i could underline a few quotes i liked and i didn't realize until i did that how much the POV of the main character, marshall, had changed. that's definitely a sign of a good author to me and i loooove an author who can manage character development and complex plots at the same time. and i mean, small-town rural folk horror with lots of horse gore and creepy forest monsters that also explores the opioid crisis and economic downfall of rural america AND lack of access to reproductive healthcare?? this could not be MORE specifically written for me. 10/10 i loved it and i highly encourage horror fans to check it out when it is released in august!
i told basically everyone i knew about this while i was reading it and i have to say, getting to chant "horse horror horse horror horse horror" at people is extremely fun. i looooved that this was a horror book for horse girls because oh my god that is a niche i need more of?? also just did a fantastic job of exploring the ecology of small towns and how interwoven everyone's lives. while i can usually take or leave a lot of POVs, this worked really well to showcase the story from every angle and highlight the complex plot threads. the town almost takes on a life of its own, with the monster from the woods acting as a personification of the poverty and generational trauma that haunts everyone living there. it's just so well done and i am SO IMPRESSED.
reads super easily - it's just mystery/thriller enough to make it hard to put down while keeping the harsher edge of horror. the character development flows really well, too, in an almost untraceable arc - i went back to the beginning after finishing so i could underline a few quotes i liked and i didn't realize until i did that how much the POV of the main character, marshall, had changed. that's definitely a sign of a good author to me and i loooove an author who can manage character development and complex plots at the same time. and i mean, small-town rural folk horror with lots of horse gore and creepy forest monsters that also explores the opioid crisis and economic downfall of rural america AND lack of access to reproductive healthcare?? this could not be MORE specifically written for me. 10/10 i loved it and i highly encourage horror fans to check it out when it is released in august!
July 2, 2024
A haunting folk horror set in a small rural town NEED I SAY MORE this is an amazing debut and I'm blown away by Leslieswriting, this was suspenseful, evocative and atmospheric, a horsey horror with an undeniably strong feminst streak, reading the synopsis you may think (like me) this was going to be a fun supernatural read, a horse giving birth to a human, giddy up were in for a good time, *however* Anderson weaves a devastating tale of generational trauma, small town poltics and womanhood that results in female rage, anguish and empowerment that seeps into the very bones of this book, Leslie writes with such fluidity and ease I found the multiple POVs easy to follow (there's quite a few) however the narrative isn't bogged down by this but rather propelled forward, it helped to solidify the insular claustrophobic nature of the town. A mesh of horrors both real and other worldly this was an emotional, slow burn, introspective read for those who like to be challenged, themes of
bodily autonomy, pregnancy, religion and grief are explored. Shelved as horror I'd say it heavily leans into thriller/suspense/literary fiction, fans of Sharp Objects or The Handsmaids Tale would enjoy.
bodily autonomy, pregnancy, religion and grief are explored. Shelved as horror I'd say it heavily leans into thriller/suspense/literary fiction, fans of Sharp Objects or The Handsmaids Tale would enjoy.
July 10, 2024
So far, it seems like I’m in the minority when I say I was a little bored with this book. I loved the prose and thought the atmosphere of the small town was well captured- this alone is what kept me going. But I didn’t really connect with the characters and because the pacing was incredibly slow and took a long while before anything was revealed, I wasn’t entirely pulled into the story. It could also be that I was caught off guard with this being marketed as Horror when the horror elements were very few and far between - I’d say this is more of a Mystery/LitFic. What I did LOVE was the idea of a ritual that transfers the birth of a baby to a horse - that’s a cool idea! And without giving away spoilers, there was just something lacking for me.
Overall it’s a solid read and I did enjoy its theme of grief, generational trauma and feminine rage. I just wish the author pumped the gas a little more and really amped up on the Horror. I’d still be intrigued to read more by this author in the future because she does have unique and interesting ideas.
Many thanks to Quirk Books for an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.
Overall it’s a solid read and I did enjoy its theme of grief, generational trauma and feminine rage. I just wish the author pumped the gas a little more and really amped up on the Horror. I’d still be intrigued to read more by this author in the future because she does have unique and interesting ideas.
Many thanks to Quirk Books for an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.
August 11, 2024
This is an excellent horror novel, both of the psychological and physical kind. The main character is a reporter sent to a small town to investigate a silly tabloid-like report of a horse giving birth to a human. She's suffering deeply from grief and the truth is that her editor has sent her away as a kind of therapy, which is actually the most unbelievable part of the set-up. We're told her name is Carolyn Marshall, but she's called and known only as Marshall throughout, which illustrates the distance she feels from herself and the world. (Or maybe there's more to it and I missed something.) Her character is developed very slowly and subtly throughout the book, and the changes are distinct, but you have to look for and think about them. The viewpoint shifts around through several other characters, but everything revolves back around to Marshall. The story is set in a small rural town where the only pastimes seem to be opioid use and horse training. It's an excellent example of regional folk-horror, and at times it reminded me of Thomas Tryon's Harvest Home and Manly Wade Wellman's Silver John stories. It's a bleak and depressing picture of poverty and hopelessness, very detailed in the description of the human-horse relationships. I wasn't crazy about the title or the cover; if it didn't say it was a horror novel, the mystery/suspense as to what exactly was happening would have lasted right through to near the end. It's an excellently written book, with very carefully layered and lyrical language, and leaves clues in descriptions without revealing too much, which serves to build the suspense. I recommend it highly.
August 21, 2024
2.5 stars it was okay.
This started off strong, but the pace did slow down after about 30%(ish). I think I just went into this book with different expectations. I thought the horror & folklore would be center stage, but this is more of an investigative mystery more than anything else with the horror and folklore elements lightly sprinkled in.
I really loved the concept of this book. It's unique and had some reflective messages within it. Some that I understood, and I think a few that went over my head.
There was a lot of POV. 10, if I counted correctly. Some occur more often than others. For me personally, it seemed a little excessive? I feel like I can see what the author was after, but to me, some of the information just became repetitive and made the story feel like it was progressing at a snails pace.
I find myself struggling with what to rate this book. I really loved the start of this book, but I had to really push myself to get through some parts of the book towards the end.
Read this if you enjoy: literary fiction, police procedural fiction, mystery, many POVs. Horses.
This started off strong, but the pace did slow down after about 30%(ish). I think I just went into this book with different expectations. I thought the horror & folklore would be center stage, but this is more of an investigative mystery more than anything else with the horror and folklore elements lightly sprinkled in.
I really loved the concept of this book. It's unique and had some reflective messages within it. Some that I understood, and I think a few that went over my head.
There was a lot of POV. 10, if I counted correctly. Some occur more often than others. For me personally, it seemed a little excessive? I feel like I can see what the author was after, but to me, some of the information just became repetitive and made the story feel like it was progressing at a snails pace.
I find myself struggling with what to rate this book. I really loved the start of this book, but I had to really push myself to get through some parts of the book towards the end.
Read this if you enjoy: literary fiction, police procedural fiction, mystery, many POVs. Horses.
Read
September 21, 2024dnf @ 15% - life's too short for boring horror
January 26, 2024
I loved the prose, the plot, the horses, the horror, and the humanity. Definitely a book that should be on everyone’s radar this year.
August 6, 2024
The Unmothers
By Leslie J. Anderson
Thank you so much partner @quirkbooks @librofm for the gifted ARC and audiobook.
Blurb:
In this raw and lyrical folk horror novel, a journalist sent to a small town begins to unravel a dark secret that the women of the town have been keeping for generations.
🐎 My thoughts:
I honestly can’t decide which version I enjoyed more. If I wasn’t reading it, I was listening to it. Another book that was a sinister and completely insane. To say this story is deeply unsettling would be an understatement but it was so good. Don’t get me wrong, it was weird but weird in a good way. I’d consider this to be a slow burn but the story telling was impressive and I didn’t notice the pacing too much. This story is unique and introspective… and I think I love folk horror. What a great debut! If you enjoy off the wall stories, the ones that make you think, and mixed with horror… this is the one you need to read! The Unmothers is out TODAY!
Happy reading 📖 🐎
By Leslie J. Anderson
Thank you so much partner @quirkbooks @librofm for the gifted ARC and audiobook.
Blurb:
In this raw and lyrical folk horror novel, a journalist sent to a small town begins to unravel a dark secret that the women of the town have been keeping for generations.
🐎 My thoughts:
I honestly can’t decide which version I enjoyed more. If I wasn’t reading it, I was listening to it. Another book that was a sinister and completely insane. To say this story is deeply unsettling would be an understatement but it was so good. Don’t get me wrong, it was weird but weird in a good way. I’d consider this to be a slow burn but the story telling was impressive and I didn’t notice the pacing too much. This story is unique and introspective… and I think I love folk horror. What a great debut! If you enjoy off the wall stories, the ones that make you think, and mixed with horror… this is the one you need to read! The Unmothers is out TODAY!
Happy reading 📖 🐎
August 10, 2024
Loved it! While the writing is at times uneven and tiny bit repetitive (some of it will probably be smoothed out by the final edits), this story of a depressed reporter following a bizarre lead in a small town known for its horse business (and superstitions) is excellent.
The sounds, smells, and the atmosphere of the foggy roads and the small town with its old church - it all worked really well. You may think you know where it’s going, but you don’t.
A very enjoyable, creepy read.
Thank you, NetGalley, for sharing the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The sounds, smells, and the atmosphere of the foggy roads and the small town with its old church - it all worked really well. You may think you know where it’s going, but you don’t.
A very enjoyable, creepy read.
Thank you, NetGalley, for sharing the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
September 21, 2024
This book is fantastically weird. A horse gives birth to a human baby... Maybe... This is the premise of the book and it is wonderfully strange and Lynchian and I loved it. There may also be an ancient creature in the woods that is causing havoc as well. If you like books that are weird, go get this book now!
Dark, disturbing, and delightfully deranged. An addictive read that kept me turning pages as if I were driving through a fog and the strangest things would appear and happen when not expected.
Dark, disturbing, and delightfully deranged. An addictive read that kept me turning pages as if I were driving through a fog and the strangest things would appear and happen when not expected.
September 28, 2024
This was so terribly lacking. The first 30% had me hooked but the multiple POVs plus the fact that there was nothing really happening till the last 15% of the book only served to make me bored. It didn't deliver on the horror aspect but I can appreciate the prose and the messages woven into it.
July 30, 2024
Debut novel by Leslie J Anderson. I was impressed that she was able to convey the intricacies of small town life. Everyone is in everyone’s business and I’m here for someone else’s drama. You get a creepy monster in the woods that is a metaphor so so much more. I enjoyed this novel and can say well done on your debut!
August 29, 2024
I can’t say that The Unmothers met my expectations because this story wasn’t anything I had expected it to be. There is so much to appreciate in what it was, though.
In fact, it was almost a perfect read for me. The author takes a rather subtle route in depicting female rage, quietly examining the way men have harmed women, the way that even the best of them can make choices that indelibly scar the females they encounter. It becomes more apparent as the story deepens, but I wouldn’t say it was ever explosive. I like this, though. I like a message that discreetly reveals itself, and I like obscurely meaningful content I can carefully chew away at.
While this falls into the folk horror category, the horror is not an ever present aspect. For a while, I was unsure how forcefully it would surface. Even the folklore of this subgenre seemed mostly dormant as we get to know the characters early on. Of course, there is this suspicious horse birthing a human story, but even the townspeople cast a shadow of doubt upon it. I’d wondered if I’d misunderstood the synopsis, but eventually the characters gave voice to a belief passed down from generation to generation, and this lore began to shine a light upon the way women are able to reclaim their bodies.
I wouldn’t call the horror unsettling, though, and I do not mean that in a critical way. There are some grisly murders, but we are privy only to the aftermath, rather than spectators in the hunt and kill. These scenes, I suspect, are more likely to produce sadness than fear. I also think we have enough information near the end to understand what needs to happen for the looming horror to abate, so it proves to be more suspenseful than scary. The core of its terror is the very knowledge that women are left behind too often to deal with the irresponsibility of men (and I do not mean all men, which is even clear in the text). This is something that will be painfully familiar for many ladies, and that will be the component that haunts them as readers.
My only complaint regarding Anderson’s vagueness is that I never felt I fully understood Emma’s connection to John Daily, or why he foolishly took a certain matter into his own hands. I think, particularly in reference to their connection, that more development here would have helped the potency of the message. Of course I could see that he was not a good man - essentially the human representation of an all consuming monster. I could also see what needed to happen to save the town. But I couldn’t quite feel what lurked in Emma’s heart, nor could I fully grasp why. Knowing he was awful wasn’t enough, as I wanted something demonstrated on a more personal level between them.
The Unmothers hits hard emotionally, and it does challenge the reader to think about what they’re being shown. These aspects mean so much to me in a book, and they are always my preference. Perhaps if I ever revisit this, I’ll see things differently, in terms of Daily’s relationship with Emma. This is the type of book that conceals nuggets for rediscovery, so I think it is an excellent option for discussion.
I am now a fan of Anderson’s writing. I’d like to read her previously published poetry and I have faith that her storytelling ability will only flourish with her next novel.
4.5 stars
In fact, it was almost a perfect read for me. The author takes a rather subtle route in depicting female rage, quietly examining the way men have harmed women, the way that even the best of them can make choices that indelibly scar the females they encounter. It becomes more apparent as the story deepens, but I wouldn’t say it was ever explosive. I like this, though. I like a message that discreetly reveals itself, and I like obscurely meaningful content I can carefully chew away at.
While this falls into the folk horror category, the horror is not an ever present aspect. For a while, I was unsure how forcefully it would surface. Even the folklore of this subgenre seemed mostly dormant as we get to know the characters early on. Of course, there is this suspicious horse birthing a human story, but even the townspeople cast a shadow of doubt upon it. I’d wondered if I’d misunderstood the synopsis, but eventually the characters gave voice to a belief passed down from generation to generation, and this lore began to shine a light upon the way women are able to reclaim their bodies.
I wouldn’t call the horror unsettling, though, and I do not mean that in a critical way. There are some grisly murders, but we are privy only to the aftermath, rather than spectators in the hunt and kill. These scenes, I suspect, are more likely to produce sadness than fear. I also think we have enough information near the end to understand what needs to happen for the looming horror to abate, so it proves to be more suspenseful than scary. The core of its terror is the very knowledge that women are left behind too often to deal with the irresponsibility of men (and I do not mean all men, which is even clear in the text). This is something that will be painfully familiar for many ladies, and that will be the component that haunts them as readers.
My only complaint regarding Anderson’s vagueness is that I never felt I fully understood Emma’s connection to John Daily, or why he foolishly took a certain matter into his own hands. I think, particularly in reference to their connection, that more development here would have helped the potency of the message. Of course I could see that he was not a good man - essentially the human representation of an all consuming monster. I could also see what needed to happen to save the town. But I couldn’t quite feel what lurked in Emma’s heart, nor could I fully grasp why. Knowing he was awful wasn’t enough, as I wanted something demonstrated on a more personal level between them.
The Unmothers hits hard emotionally, and it does challenge the reader to think about what they’re being shown. These aspects mean so much to me in a book, and they are always my preference. Perhaps if I ever revisit this, I’ll see things differently, in terms of Daily’s relationship with Emma. This is the type of book that conceals nuggets for rediscovery, so I think it is an excellent option for discussion.
I am now a fan of Anderson’s writing. I’d like to read her previously published poetry and I have faith that her storytelling ability will only flourish with her next novel.
4.5 stars
August 12, 2024
A new favorite! I absolutely loved this. I tried not to read it too quickly, but it was honestly such a joy that I kept going back to it. I feel like no matter what I write in this review it's not going to do the book justice, and I also don't want to spoil anything, so I'm probably going to keep it sort of brief.
The writing is just so good. This is a book in which every paragraph is carefully crafted, and there is zero filler. You are immediately pulled into this atmospheric world, full of dread and death. Marshall, the reporter, is a main character you can root for. The small town feels frighteningly familiar and claustrophobic, and from the moment Marshall gets there the danger is palpable. This is the sort of place that knows everybody’s business but will typically turn a blind eye even if someone is desperate for help. The further I read, the more I found myself thinking, “Boy, I sure hope this turns out okay, somehow.”
There are many alternate POV chapters, (bordering on too many but Anderson is capable), and the characters that she chose to follow surprised me a little bit. You will get to know a LOT of people. Anderson does something I really admire, which is show me a person that first comes across as very unlikable and then later reveal another, more personal side of them that completely changes my perspective. For a little while I did have some trouble remembering who everyone was because there were so many townspeople involved, but eventually I had it all straight. Rather than do first person perspective she also opted for third person, so it feels more like the camera just follows one character for a few minutes and then smoothly shifts over to another.
The way Anderson describes horses and how magical they seem to little girls is powerful. If you are a fan of horses I think this book will resonate with you specifically, though please be aware that awful things also happen to horses in this story so it is a double edged sword of the most literal kind. I don't want to say too much about this novel, because I want people to read it and enjoy it like I did. But there are several complicated themes that are handled, such as Grief, Motherhood/Pregnancy (both wanted and unwanted), and Addiction. It’s absolutely horror, but it’s also a crime/mystery story. I would maybe call it a little bit of a slow burn, but it’s not boring in any way. I couldn't really guess where things were heading, nor did I want to try. It's one of those books with A24 vibes. Bizarre and creepy and surprising!
There were a couple of things about the town lore that I found a little confusing, but it was still so weird and interesting to me that I was completely on board. And by the end, I had a pretty good grasp on it. I think Anderson is extremely talented both as an author in general, (that prose!), and as a creative storyteller. If she releases another horror novel I will be first in line to read it.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and to the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
Biggest TW: Animal death (violent), Substance abuse, Racism, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Suicidal Ideation, Mention of Miscarriage
The writing is just so good. This is a book in which every paragraph is carefully crafted, and there is zero filler. You are immediately pulled into this atmospheric world, full of dread and death. Marshall, the reporter, is a main character you can root for. The small town feels frighteningly familiar and claustrophobic, and from the moment Marshall gets there the danger is palpable. This is the sort of place that knows everybody’s business but will typically turn a blind eye even if someone is desperate for help. The further I read, the more I found myself thinking, “Boy, I sure hope this turns out okay, somehow.”
There are many alternate POV chapters, (bordering on too many but Anderson is capable), and the characters that she chose to follow surprised me a little bit. You will get to know a LOT of people. Anderson does something I really admire, which is show me a person that first comes across as very unlikable and then later reveal another, more personal side of them that completely changes my perspective. For a little while I did have some trouble remembering who everyone was because there were so many townspeople involved, but eventually I had it all straight. Rather than do first person perspective she also opted for third person, so it feels more like the camera just follows one character for a few minutes and then smoothly shifts over to another.
The way Anderson describes horses and how magical they seem to little girls is powerful. If you are a fan of horses I think this book will resonate with you specifically, though please be aware that awful things also happen to horses in this story so it is a double edged sword of the most literal kind. I don't want to say too much about this novel, because I want people to read it and enjoy it like I did. But there are several complicated themes that are handled, such as Grief, Motherhood/Pregnancy (both wanted and unwanted), and Addiction. It’s absolutely horror, but it’s also a crime/mystery story. I would maybe call it a little bit of a slow burn, but it’s not boring in any way. I couldn't really guess where things were heading, nor did I want to try. It's one of those books with A24 vibes. Bizarre and creepy and surprising!
There were a couple of things about the town lore that I found a little confusing, but it was still so weird and interesting to me that I was completely on board. And by the end, I had a pretty good grasp on it. I think Anderson is extremely talented both as an author in general, (that prose!), and as a creative storyteller. If she releases another horror novel I will be first in line to read it.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and to the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
Biggest TW: Animal death (violent), Substance abuse, Racism, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Suicidal Ideation, Mention of Miscarriage
August 19, 2024
3.5 stars rounded up to 4!
August 19, 2024
This is the driest book I think I have read for 2024
Marshall’s husband died and to help her cope. Her boss sends her on a journalist assignment to a small town where strange things are happening.
Maybe I am too dumb to read this book but I understood nothing. I felt like nothing was happening. Marshall was going there to write a story about a horse giving birth to human baby but nothing really happens until 80-90% of the book. It is the slowest burn in a horror book I have ever read.
There is so many POVs with little to no explanation on who or why these people are involved with the storyline. I felt like this book was all over the place.
The last 90% of the book was the best part.
I was wanting spooky, dark with old folklore and I did not get that.
Genre: Horror
APK: Ebook
Pages: 323
Rating: ⭐️
Series or Standalone: Stand-alone
Marshall’s husband died and to help her cope. Her boss sends her on a journalist assignment to a small town where strange things are happening.
Maybe I am too dumb to read this book but I understood nothing. I felt like nothing was happening. Marshall was going there to write a story about a horse giving birth to human baby but nothing really happens until 80-90% of the book. It is the slowest burn in a horror book I have ever read.
There is so many POVs with little to no explanation on who or why these people are involved with the storyline. I felt like this book was all over the place.
The last 90% of the book was the best part.
I was wanting spooky, dark with old folklore and I did not get that.
Genre: Horror
APK: Ebook
Pages: 323
Rating: ⭐️
Series or Standalone: Stand-alone
July 22, 2024
Looking for some feminist folk horror? The Unmothers is your book. Set in a small, rural town, this was so atmospheric and creepy, far exceeding what I hoped. There are quite a few things going on, we have grief and folk horror, female rage, a bit of gore, I couldn't put it down. There were a lot of POVs in this one, but I never found it to be overwhelming or confusing and the character development was great without being too much. It's the perfect read on an early fall night, when the sun starts to set earlier and the nights begin to be chilly. I can't wait to read whatever Leslie J. Anderson writes next. Thanks so much to Quirk Books for sending me a copy of this one! The Unmothers will be published 8/6 and needs to be on your TBR!
April 14, 2024
Stumbled upon an ARC of this one, and it was a great read. The Unmothers reminded me a lot of a very good Monster-of-the-Week episode of The X-Files with a feminist twist. I found it difficult to pull myself away from this one.
September 27, 2024
This is for you if you love....
× horses
× women taking their power back
× folk legends and monsters that live in the woods
The premise is different from anything I've read before. While the story didn't impact me as much as I'd hoped, I still found the themes of desperation, and women trying to carve themselves a choice in a space where few options are given, to be well executed.
Reading notes along the way...
30% I love the horse appreciation in this. The story itself, I'm still waiting to hook me. It's kind of dull so far.
40% the part about being a girl and always being sexualized was really well written
The atmosphere of this small town is so yucky (on purpose, I know, but the author is doing a good job convincing that this would be a terrible place to live)
51% I'm not sure who all these different men are, there's too many characters in this small town, and I can't keep track of who's who.
71% it's getting more interesting the more details come out about the folk legend. This is the most interesting aspect of the story, and so far, it's only been sprinkled into the narrative.
88% I'm kind of ready for it to be over for some reason. I still haven't fully connected to this yet. It's not that it's bad, but for me, it's lacking something. And I'm still not retaining any of the side characters' names, so some chapters are confusing, and i feel like i dont care...
100% the ending felt a bit anticlimactic, and there wasn't much horror present, but overall, I found the story to be new, and I liked the themes explored.
× horses
× women taking their power back
× folk legends and monsters that live in the woods
The premise is different from anything I've read before. While the story didn't impact me as much as I'd hoped, I still found the themes of desperation, and women trying to carve themselves a choice in a space where few options are given, to be well executed.
Reading notes along the way...
30% I love the horse appreciation in this. The story itself, I'm still waiting to hook me. It's kind of dull so far.
40% the part about being a girl and always being sexualized was really well written
The atmosphere of this small town is so yucky (on purpose, I know, but the author is doing a good job convincing that this would be a terrible place to live)
51% I'm not sure who all these different men are, there's too many characters in this small town, and I can't keep track of who's who.
71% it's getting more interesting the more details come out about the folk legend. This is the most interesting aspect of the story, and so far, it's only been sprinkled into the narrative.
88% I'm kind of ready for it to be over for some reason. I still haven't fully connected to this yet. It's not that it's bad, but for me, it's lacking something. And I'm still not retaining any of the side characters' names, so some chapters are confusing, and i feel like i dont care...
100% the ending felt a bit anticlimactic, and there wasn't much horror present, but overall, I found the story to be new, and I liked the themes explored.
September 17, 2024
Three Words That Describe This Book: folk horror, strong sense of place, interesting characters
Things of note here:
*Strong debut
*Horse frame: this is important to note because for some readers this will be the reason to read or to avoid.
*not just gothic-- folk horror-- real monster
*PArt of the THERE IS SOMETHING IN THER WOODS trope
*small town, in country with a opiate problem but portrayed well-- honestly, no corners cut, no blaming, not resorting to stereotypes. That was nice to experience.
*MANY points of view-- different readers will decide if that is for them or not, but it does allow for a depth of the townsfolk.
*outsider protagonist who is broken in her own ways. Her journey is interesting an unique
*Centered around women, teen pregnancy, how women often bear the burden of well so much.
Things of note here:
*Strong debut
*Horse frame: this is important to note because for some readers this will be the reason to read or to avoid.
*not just gothic-- folk horror-- real monster
*PArt of the THERE IS SOMETHING IN THER WOODS trope
*small town, in country with a opiate problem but portrayed well-- honestly, no corners cut, no blaming, not resorting to stereotypes. That was nice to experience.
*MANY points of view-- different readers will decide if that is for them or not, but it does allow for a depth of the townsfolk.
*outsider protagonist who is broken in her own ways. Her journey is interesting an unique
*Centered around women, teen pregnancy, how women often bear the burden of well so much.
August 7, 2024
Short Review: She’s got style, she’s got grace. She flaunts Horses in your face. 😂
Full Review:
The story is a folk horror set in a rural run down horse industry town where Marshall a reporter is sent to do a story on an unlikely miracle. A horse giving birth to a human baby!
What Marshall finds in this town is more than she bargained for and will change her life forever.
What I didn’t love : This story is very slow and I wouldn’t call it horror per se. I was also sold this book on the idea it was a female rage story and I don’t feel that’s accurate either.
What I loved: Basically everything thing else. First and foremost the writing, this book has some of the best and most beautiful writing I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. I’m not someone who annotates or tabs books much if ever but this book had me underlining and tabbing all throughout.
While the story was a slow burn it managed to keep me interested the whole ride with mood and atmosphere that I can only liken to that sense of trepidation and excitement that comes from watching a large storm rolling in.
While it’s not a “scary” book it does have a solid folk creature to explore and I highly recommend to anyone who likes interesting stories that burn beautifully all be it slowly.
4.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Thank you to @quirkbooks for an advance copy for review. The Unmothers is available from book sellers now.
July 18, 2024
The Unmothers
I received this book for free from NG.
Reporter who just lost her husband is sent to a small town for a week to cover a teenager with a baby. Per usual, The towns people aren’t welcoming to an outsider. The book at first leads you to believe that the weird behavior from locals is due to poverty and opioid addiction. The life of the town is centered around horses. Around a quarter way through the book is when you finally start to see what the “mystery” is. The writing purposely makes it seem that there is incest or beastiality as a tactic to keep you glued in. About a third way through the book, the mother is finally identified and it’s not an animal or family member. The middle of the book is very frustrating because it is a LOT of POV switches to a lot of characters, but they are leading nowhere and don’t contribute to the story. At halfway through the book there is nothing but small town fights of the cliché “you were supposed to do better” (there are multiple young pregnancy’s within the town). Further into the book, it kinda starts to quicken up. Philip’s mom is contacted to reveal how she performed “the ritual”, to which it turns out that someone is paying her rent. Then it’s another round of small town drama. FINALLY, the monster makes an appearance (it’s the same monster from the Novel Her Soul to Take by Harley Larmoux). Someone messed up the ritual and now the monster is angry.
Some of the things didn’t line up. Like Agatha’s dad being “top dog” in the town yet Agatha and Roth were suffering and couldn’t afford to upkeep their houses, and an extremely poor town yet everyone had horses and paid for riding lessons,
Also, there was just too many POVs. My limit is 3, if the writing is organized. This book has way more than that.
I shouldn’t have to read half of a book to get some sort of substance from the pages. Until the 54% mark, there is maybe 3 pages of importance. The rest doesn’t do anything but bore and drag the reader. Seriously, we get it. They’re in a small town. We don’t need a hundred pages and 5 POVs to redundantly go over that. This book really let me down. I sped read it at the end it was so bad.
I received this book for free from NG.
Reporter who just lost her husband is sent to a small town for a week to cover a teenager with a baby. Per usual, The towns people aren’t welcoming to an outsider. The book at first leads you to believe that the weird behavior from locals is due to poverty and opioid addiction. The life of the town is centered around horses. Around a quarter way through the book is when you finally start to see what the “mystery” is. The writing purposely makes it seem that there is incest or beastiality as a tactic to keep you glued in. About a third way through the book, the mother is finally identified and it’s not an animal or family member. The middle of the book is very frustrating because it is a LOT of POV switches to a lot of characters, but they are leading nowhere and don’t contribute to the story. At halfway through the book there is nothing but small town fights of the cliché “you were supposed to do better” (there are multiple young pregnancy’s within the town). Further into the book, it kinda starts to quicken up. Philip’s mom is contacted to reveal how she performed “the ritual”, to which it turns out that someone is paying her rent. Then it’s another round of small town drama. FINALLY, the monster makes an appearance (it’s the same monster from the Novel Her Soul to Take by Harley Larmoux). Someone messed up the ritual and now the monster is angry.
Some of the things didn’t line up. Like Agatha’s dad being “top dog” in the town yet Agatha and Roth were suffering and couldn’t afford to upkeep their houses, and an extremely poor town yet everyone had horses and paid for riding lessons,
Also, there was just too many POVs. My limit is 3, if the writing is organized. This book has way more than that.
I shouldn’t have to read half of a book to get some sort of substance from the pages. Until the 54% mark, there is maybe 3 pages of importance. The rest doesn’t do anything but bore and drag the reader. Seriously, we get it. They’re in a small town. We don’t need a hundred pages and 5 POVs to redundantly go over that. This book really let me down. I sped read it at the end it was so bad.
August 1, 2024
I want to begin by saying that the story was very good despite my three star rating. The idea and the creativity and the plot were all so good and exciting. The execution wasn’t the best, though. And I think that the medium of a novella would have suited this more.
A grieving journalist is sent to a small rural town to look into and write a piece about a horse that gave birth to a healthy baby boy. That’s really all you need to know to go into this one. The rest of the story will unfold from there. You’ll be introduced to a large (almost too large, in my opinion) cast of characters. You’ll glimpse into the culture and the folklore and the legend of the things that lurk in the shadows of the woods. You’ll meet the women and be taken into their secret lives in order to make sense of it all.
I wish this book was shorter. Really, the first third of this book was not necessary for the development of the plot, and it almost felt like work that was not needed. The constant switching between POV’s and the effort of trying to remember who everyone was made getting to the meat and potatoes of the story a slog. I loved the idea, and I loved some of the characters. It just didn’t work well for me. However, if you’re a person who these things do work for, then this will likely be a home run urban legend novel for you.
Thanks to the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
A grieving journalist is sent to a small rural town to look into and write a piece about a horse that gave birth to a healthy baby boy. That’s really all you need to know to go into this one. The rest of the story will unfold from there. You’ll be introduced to a large (almost too large, in my opinion) cast of characters. You’ll glimpse into the culture and the folklore and the legend of the things that lurk in the shadows of the woods. You’ll meet the women and be taken into their secret lives in order to make sense of it all.
I wish this book was shorter. Really, the first third of this book was not necessary for the development of the plot, and it almost felt like work that was not needed. The constant switching between POV’s and the effort of trying to remember who everyone was made getting to the meat and potatoes of the story a slog. I loved the idea, and I loved some of the characters. It just didn’t work well for me. However, if you’re a person who these things do work for, then this will likely be a home run urban legend novel for you.
Thanks to the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 16, 2024
I honestly wanted more from this book. It was extremely slow and verbose and that did nothing for the plot.
Read
March 15, 2024This was deeply unsettling and incredibly well-written. You can tell that Anderson is a expert in taking care of horses (and a self-described horse girl), and that level of detail and care alone makes this novel stand out. She absolutely nails the small-town horror mystery genre with a poet's intuition for rich, evocative prose. I'm impressed. I feel lucky that I got to read this so early.
May 18, 2024
DNF @32%
I had such high hopes for this one...
I had such high hopes for this one...
August 11, 2024
A small town horror novel with a freaky premise and all the twists and turns you want in a horror book.
A reporter is sent to a small town against her wishes, to investigate a story straight from the tabloids: a horse has given birth to a human baby. She doesn't believe it, of course, and wants to go home but her editor sent her there as a sort of wake up call. Her husband recently passed away and her grief has caused her work to suffer greatly. So a week away in this town for her.
The people in town don't seem to really like each other much and really don't like outsiders snooping around. All they love are the many, many horses which dominate the entire population. These people love their horses!
As she's investigating, she's going to find out that this town has some very horrifying secrets and legends. And when evidence starts pointing toward something which is impossible, she finds herself in extreme danger. Not everyone wants these secrets revealed.
This is a very readable novel with great pacing, a creepy nightmare inducing narrative, and plenty of twists and surprises along the way. I highly recommend it.
A reporter is sent to a small town against her wishes, to investigate a story straight from the tabloids: a horse has given birth to a human baby. She doesn't believe it, of course, and wants to go home but her editor sent her there as a sort of wake up call. Her husband recently passed away and her grief has caused her work to suffer greatly. So a week away in this town for her.
The people in town don't seem to really like each other much and really don't like outsiders snooping around. All they love are the many, many horses which dominate the entire population. These people love their horses!
As she's investigating, she's going to find out that this town has some very horrifying secrets and legends. And when evidence starts pointing toward something which is impossible, she finds herself in extreme danger. Not everyone wants these secrets revealed.
This is a very readable novel with great pacing, a creepy nightmare inducing narrative, and plenty of twists and surprises along the way. I highly recommend it.
July 17, 2024
Thank you so much to NetGalley & Quirk Books for this advanced copy of this book. I really love folk horror. The story also had the cultish vibes I also enjoy. It was in parts very emotional and also bonkers. Check this out when it publishes August 6, 2024!
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