ARC REVIEW: THE UNMOTHERS BY LESLIE J. ANDERSON
⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
CW Animal Death Murder Mentions of drug use
As I get back into reading horror, this title immediately caught my eye as I entered Goodreads giveaways. I was lucky enough to win a copy, and started reading soon after I received it. Stories about small town mysteries always intrigue me. The things they keep behind closed doors. The things that live on in their lore but are never confirmed. The Unmothers builds on that while tapping into the rage many feel about current events.
Marshall, the journalist, is an interesting voice to follow. She’s had her own struggles, but watching her put together the pieces of what’s really going on felt like I was watching an indie horror film in the best way. There are also POVs from various other characters, and even the horses, which build out not only the lore but the growing sense of dread as the story continues. You worry for the town, for the baby, for the people (except a few of them). The jagged pieces come together in the end, helping the reader understand what’s going on, but also why it can’t be stopped.
If you are someone that has struggled with the ever changing climate surrounding pregnancy and human bodies in the United States, I truly recommend this book. I commend the author for putting the feelings I’ve had since summer 2022 into a tangible form. There is something incredibly cathartic about it, especially as someone in a battleground state. I don’t know if the editor’s note that was in my ARC copy will be in every copy, but it was the mental preparation I needed going into this book.
Thank you to Quirk Books and Goodreads for the physical ARC!
