Smothermoss

There is a long tradition of Folk Horror in the UK, but plenty of other countries bring their own flavour to the genre. American Gothic has all the trappings of classic Folk Horror, but has that distinct US flavour. The woods out there seem different, ancient landscapes unused to the people that rocked up only a few hundred years ago. Shelia and her sister Angie live in a secluded house in the woods with their mother. In many ways they have more in common with the trees than the kids in their class. This is useful when you need the woods on your side. There is a killer loose in Alisa Alering’s Smothermoss and the forest may be the sisters’ saviour. 

Life in a single parent family is tough, especially for Shelia and Angie. They already live in an odd house in the woods, but their obvious poverty makes them a target for bullies at school. To escape the bullies and each other, Shelia and Angie often walk in the nearby woods. Shelia carries an uneasy burden that only she can see, and Angie seems to be able to predict future events using her cards. Are the children witches? Will it help with a killer on the prowl? 

American Gothic is less about the setting and characters and more about capturing a feel. It is that sense of dark, earthy magic that Alering captures perfectly in Smothermoss. This is a story told in lyrical prose, the children float through the story. They are unable to find their place in the world and never feel grounded. Shelia starts to see strange things and Angie becomes obsessed with finding the killer. 

Shelia is the older sister and dominates the story. Hers is a coming-of-age story, in an age that does not want her. It is hard to read about her life, but there is a steel within. Angie is both a more grounded character and more with her head in the clouds. She can fight and survive in the woods but is also prone to fantasy and running head on into danger. The two sisters together are very different, but there is also a family bond. 

Alering writes with a deft touch, rich prose makes a standard event seem magical. The style is truly Gothic, and it will appeal to fans of that genre. In places the book was complicated to follow, the airy nature meant that I was unsure what was real. This is partly on purpose by the author, but I did struggle to grasp what was real and what was magical or imaginary. This fluid sense of truth is what fans of Gothic enjoy, but I need a smidgeon more magical realism to allow me to stay on track with the tale. 

What you end up with is an ethereal tale that floats. There is a story, but it is more a book about the characters and the feel it inspires in the reader. The prose takes you on a meandering journey somewhat off the core path at times. There are plenty of readers who will enjoy the relaxed style of the story, but as a reader who prefers pace and something solid to grasp onto, it was a struggle in places.