Plant-based Family Folklore
Book Review: The Bog Wife by Kay Chronister
“Always they had been portioning out fragments of the bog’s life in exchange for fragments of their own.”
― Kay Chronister, The Bog Wife
Genre: Folk Horror
My Rating: Four out of five stars
The Bog Wife is an eerie, atmospheric tale of an Appalachian family with an ancient and magical history. Set in the secluded boglands of West Virginia, the story follows the Haddesley siblings (Charlie, Wenna, Nora, Eda, and Percy) as they grapple with their family’s peculiar traditions and the unsettling mysteries of their dilapidated ancestral home. It is told from each of the siblings’ points of view, which adds to their uncanny family history.
Chronister’s writing is intensely atmospheric, immersing readers in the decaying manor and the haunting bog that seems almost alive. The narrative is character-driven, focusing on the complex dynamics among the siblings as they confront their family’s past and question their future. The prose is lush and evocative, with vivid descriptions that bring the eerie setting to life.
While the plot unfolds at a deliberate pace, the rich character development and the gradual unraveling of family secrets kept me engaged to the end. It has been categorized as “gothic horror.” I was hoping it would be scarier than it was. It was weird, for sure, but not “scary.” If you like weird fiction and tales of botanical ladies laying around in bogs, then you will love this one.
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Going to pick this up. Thanks!