A River Wide by Amanda J. McGee
Interstellar Flight Press (September 7, 2026)
Reviewed by Rowan B. Minor
Horror and fantasy writer Amanda J. McGee is a poet and novelist who resides in Southwest Virginia. Her work has been featured in Artemis Journal, Roanoke Rambler, Luna Station Quarterly, and other venues. McGee is the author of books Mother of Creation and Daughter of Madness from The Creation Saga, as well as the novella Viridian, which is featured in A Sinister Quartet alongside authors C. S. E. Cooney, Mike Allen, and Jessica P. Wick. McGee’s debut standalone horror novella is A River Wide from Interstellar Flight Press. 
A River Wide is a 98-page Appalachian murder ballad that depicts violence against women through the lens of the witch trope. Main character Rhia Blackburn is a water witch from the hollers of Appalachia whose magic has been passed down through a long line of women. After her adopted sister Amey supposedly murders a no-good man, she is kidnapped, and Rhia must unveil the magic and secrets she’s suppressed most of her life. Can Rhia negotiate with the river and use her spellwork to find Amey in time?
From the opening chapter, McGee comes in swinging with a setup that will make your skin crawl. Her prose is concise while simultaneously vivid and imaginative, and her language is immersed in nature, specifically Appalachian flora, fauna, and landscapes which appear completely alive and conscious of what is happening throughout the book. The water itself is treated as a living character, highly respected by Rhia, and she discovers her power not only through the water, but from within herself. While the dialect doesn’t fully encompass Appalachian vernacular, the characters still seem like they belong in their invented, dreamlike space.
A River Wide is a quick, stunning, and eerie read that explores major themes such as grief, broken family dynamics, and expectations of the eldest daughter. McGee makes the audience care about her characters and what happens to them. And her fast-paced writing is captivating. The author does include a content warning for murder, violence against women, suicidal ideation, anti-LGBTQ sentiment, and death, but these themes are all handled gracefully. This novella would be good for anyone who is new to horror, into Appalachian literature, wants a unique twist on the witch trope, or has a hard time fitting a full-length book into their schedule.
