A land surveyor returns to the West Virginia coal hollow she escaped, this time to assess a reclamation site. The ground is unstable, and an old intelligence lives inside the mountain.
Overburden opens The Reclamation with a homecoming that becomes part of the job. Familiar ground has its own dangers, including some her training cannot account for.
The hollow
This is Appalachian Gothic. The coal hollow gives the story its place and its history of extraction. She returns with a history of her own here, including the decision to leave.
The work
She has practical expertise and real hazards to assess. The reclamation work gives her a reason to examine the land closely, even as the mountain becomes stranger.
The mountain
The supernatural presence is part of the setting itself. An old intelligence lives within the mountain, bringing ecological horror and cryptid romance into the same landscape.
Before you begin
Expect adult themes, supernatural danger, ecological horror, and a slow-burn romance.
Begin Overburden:
https://ksvalentina.com/books/overburden
The companion newsletter includes the Overburden edition guide: EPUB package, signed editions, soundtrack, and app purchase. Get K.S. Valentina’s letters on Substack: https://ksvalentina.substack.com/
Read the full companion letter, “Come back to the hollow”: https://ksvalentina.substack.com/p/come-back-to-the-hollow