Chalk Mountain Has It All: The Birds, The Bees, and The Heebie-Jeebies
Chalk Mountain, written by Mark A. Nobles, is a Southern Gothic Horror novel that intertwines geographical folklore with filial piety. The story follows the aftermath of our main character, Elwanda Stasey, taking her first year walk-an old Norwegian ritual that offers a glimpse into the future. Unnerved by what she sees, Elwanda must decide if emotional intervention is worth the risk of losing everything. Within 200 pages, Nobles details a folklore fueled tale that will leave you questioning if faulty decisions, and deadly secrets, are worth keeping.
“…Headless means death, as you likely have guessed, and a death not by sickness or disease, but by calamity..”
Set in the small town of Chalk Mountain, Texas, Elwanda’s every decision causes a ripple effect of supernatural justice to be enacted on the townsfolk. As the situation becomes dire, various entities and their acolytes find themselves drawn to the country town in hopes of fixing what has been broken.
The inclusion of Norwegian, Texan, and New Orleanian (and likely other regions) folklore is interesting and the way Nobles intertwines the use of regional magic into one is a beautiful description of shared American culture. This novel is brimming with tension, mystery, and supernatural imagery that will have you begging for more.
Magic Systems, Character Development, and Lingering Questions
The folklore in Chalk Mountain is easily the most engaging part of the novel. Noble’s imagination holds no bounds and the intricacies involved in his magic systems thrive along the pages. His creative use of messenger bees and crows as tools of harsh justice, while the Norwegian bäckahäst, huldra, and nøkken are pawns in a game lost long ago, tugs on the readers heart-strings and keeps them rooted to the story until the very end.
Chalk Mountain explores the many ways secrets and lies, even in the face of good intentions, can cause more harm than good. Aside from the otherworldly entities, our supporting characters Jack Ray, The Walking People, the Stasey family, and a slew of townsfolk add to the growing tension brimming under the surface of Chalk Mountain, Texas. Every backstory answers the questions proposed by Elwanda’s actions until the plot reaches its boiling point.
“It is sometimes helpful when the law comes around looking for Michael to have many Michaels to choose from.”
But, where the magical elements progress the characters suffer. Since there are many characters that come together to tell the story of the Stasey family and Chalk Mountain residents, it’s quite noticeable when the folklore completely encompasses the characters’ development and involvement in the overall story.
There are certain spaces in the novel that feel a bit rushed in order to make way for the magic system, such as the inclusion of Jack Ray, the Walking People, Buck Stasey, the unknown secrets of Chalk Mountain residents, and how they all truly connect to Elwanda’s previous (and current) choices. The ending left me wanting more and with an abundance of unanswered questions about the Stasey family. Even with these faults, Nobles delivers a satisfying read that is a great reader introduction to the southern gothic horror genre.
Overall, Chalk Mountain is engaging and will keep you on the edge of your seat, completely unaware as to what Elwanda and the townsfolk’s next move will be. The plot is gripping and the magic systems are well thought out. Nobles writing voice is captivating and full of imagery. Chalk Mountain is sure to be a novel that sticks with you throughout the test of time.
