A Mountain in the Air: A Trilogy by Laura Koerber – Review by Jenni Bishop

A Mountain in the Air: A Trilogy by Laura Koerber
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.5 stars
A Mountain in the Air trilogy is three books in one. The first two novellas were previously published as Coyote’s Road Trip and Raven Woman’s Tavern. The third is brand new.
Coyote’s Road Trip is a blend of magical realism and set in a dystopian future. It is a short and unique tale as with Laura’s other books along this line. This story touches on the topic of climate change and its effects on the world. The mysterious Coyote Jim is a shapeshifter nature spirit as old as time. He gets up to mischief both good and bad but he is not intentionally malicious or out to hurt others. He has decided it’s time seeking to find and establish a new home. What ensues is truly an interesting road trip.
Raven Woman’s Tavern is set in a future that could well become a reality. This dark tale is a quick read, and I felt the story was a little disjointed and unfinished in some instances. Overall, the premise is interesting and there are a lot of players and different aspects being played out. Raven is not what she seems. She is always around and watches everything. She is all knowing, and all seeing and hands out life and death as she sees fit. But that is only part of the story the rest is about people trying to survive in small town on the fringes and a world that has been ravished and where the militia are the law.
A Mountain in the Air is also a magical realism tale and brings the stories together and to completion where any unresolved questions are answered. This novella as like the other two are set in a near future ravaged by climate change and combines characters connected from both Coyote’s Road Trip and Raven Woman’s Tavern. It is a bit of an emotional tale, a story of being at a liminal space, a transitional space, a “crossroads”, a story of life and death.

Reviewed by @jennadb

View all my reviews