Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

"Smothermoss" by Alisa Alering is a chilling gothic novel set against the eerie backdrop of an Appalachian town reeling from a double murder. The story centers on two sisters, Sheila and Angie, whose lives are marred by poverty and family dysfunction. Sheila, the older of the two, harbors resentment towards her half-sister Angie, who is fixated on Cold War paranoia and spends her time drawing unsettling tarot cards. Despite her frustrations, Sheila has resigned herself to her dismal circumstances and does her best to support her family, taking on a job at a local asylum alongside her mother.

The novel excels in its atmospheric descriptions, with Alering turning the Appalachian mountains into a living, breathing character. The natural world, with its wild and untamed beauty, is depicted in vivid, eerie imagery that adds depth and tension to the narrative. The mountains seem to watch over the town, its presence felt in every shadow and whispering wind, enhancing the book’s gothic tone.

As Sheila and Angie navigate the aftermath of the murders, they struggle to be taken seriously by the adults around them, including those involved in the investigation. Their attempts to prove their worth and gain recognition form a core part of the narrative. Sheila, who is coming to terms with her queerness and her crush on a classmate named Juanita, dreams of escaping the town and its oppressive poverty. Meanwhile, Angie is determined to rise above their circumstances, believing that solving the murder will earn her the respect she craves.

The novel’s exploration of these themes is compelling, particularly in its portrayal of Sheila’s internal conflict over her sexuality and her desire for acceptance. The tension between the sisters, their different coping mechanisms, and their interactions with the wealthier, bullying kids in town are well-drawn and add emotional depth to the story.

However, while the book's atmosphere and character development are strong, the plot ultimately falls short. The narrative’s progression is marked by a pervasive sense of unease, but this tension does not culminate in a satisfying resolution. By the end of the book, many plot threads remain unresolved, leaving readers with more questions than answers. This ambiguity may appeal to some readers who enjoy symbolic and open-ended stories, but it left me feeling confused and somewhat unsatisfied.

Despite these shortcomings, "Smothermoss" remains a compulsive read, driven by its haunting atmosphere and vivid depictions of nature. Alisa Alering’s talent for creating an unsettling, almost otherworldly setting is undeniable. If you are drawn to gothic fiction with rich, eerie landscapes and complex characters, this book is worth exploring, even if its conclusion may not tie everything together as neatly as some might hope.

📖 Recommended For: Fans of gothic fiction with a haunting atmosphere, readers who appreciate stories set in the Appalachian mountains, enthusiasts of character-driven narratives with a touch of the supernatural, and those interested in themes of queerness and socio-economic struggles.

🔑 Key Themes: Queer Representation, Family Dysfunction, Poverty, Gothic and Eerie Natural Elements, Adolescence and Identity, Socio-Economic Struggles, Appalachian Setting.