Marked today, 6th January 2026 22:12, as I finished the book “Mother Naked”
The story that captured me when I first read the unique title
“Mother naked”
Is that a name? A metaphor? What does it mean? At first I did not understand any of it, but as the story unfolded, I was left utterly speechless.
Mother Naked is inspired by the name “Modyr Nakett”, the performer who lived hundreds of years ago. At first, I think. Mother Naked is the modern way of pronouncing its original name. But I was wrong. The author didn’t just randomly adapt the name, he adds depth to it. Make it into something meaningful and horrifying. (in a good way) So no, Mother Naked isn’t just a name or a metaphor, it carries a heavy weight so much more than that—one I cannot explain, for I wish thee to discover for yourself. And when you do, I can promise it’s worth the wait.
The story begins as a Gleeman named Mother Naked is paid to perform during the feast of Saint Godric in front of the most powerful men. In truth, Mother Naked isn’t supposed to be there, another Gleeman was supposed to be the entertainer that night.
The reason for his absence? I’m afraid it’s not my tale to tell.
Nevertheless, Mother Naked is there, singing songs, telling the tale—The Legend of the Fell Wraith—to these nobles. But to know the origin of the story, first you must understand its roots.
This book is based on 1434, the city of Durham. So the language or the dialogue is pretty much different from when I grew up. It’s the language that was used hundreds of years ago. I have to put double effort into reading. There are so many words I do not know. Sometimes I have to use Google translate the specific words to understand the story more. I intend not to do that so often, as it gives me a reader’s block? (if that’s a thing) Even so, even though there was a language barrier, it’s not about what I didn’t understand, it’s about what the author conveyed to their readers to see the bigger picture. Which, truthfully, he succeeded.
Mother Naked has many characters, each character has their role in the story. Big and small. They are all significant. How significant? It’s significant enough for me to turn the page to the beginning of the book to re-read it again and I gasped. It’s brilliant how the author hid every tiny detail since the very first page and I failed to see it. It’s like one of the biggest spoiler alerts was right there, how did I not see it coming? I guess I deserved what’s coming in the end.
For me as a reader, and a writer myself, one of the hardest things to do is to make the reader memorize every character in the book. It’s not an easy job. I’ve read books which make memorizing characters as easy as breathing, I don’t have to turn back the page to find out when the character first appeared, and I’ve also read books that made memorizing characters so difficult for no reason. Mother Naked is the first kind of book. The kind that makes memorizing so easy and unforgettable. That mastery comes so naturally, and it’s such a precious gift.
To introduce the characters would ruin the biggest surprise. I want you to experience the surprise as I did. Every character has their own purpose, and every purpose circles us back to the main character—Mother Naked, and the horror tales—the Legend of the Fell Wraith.
The first half is about introducing the main character’s background story. This part is easy to read. I feel like I was watching the first 2-3 episodes of the historical series. It shows me how the rustic were living their life back in the day. The life that was bound to serve their master from birth to death. Freedom is a luxury and a dangerous daydream. Their life is hard enough as it is, to have a friend whom they can rely on is a blessing, but to have a horrible neighbor who sets their eyes to avenge you over little things? That’s a horrible nightmare. A nightmare which Mother Naked carries all his life—or should I say, lyf?
In my personal opinion, the majority of the book is the middle part. It switches back and forth between Mother Naked’s performance and the characters’ background stories. There are lots of things that happen in the middle part. I mean—lots. To say it’s a rollercoaster ride would be an underestimate statement. Each story connected to another like bridges across the sea. Not a canal. Not a stream. THE MOTHER FUCKING SEA.
Imagine yourself walking across the wooden bridge, taking in the marvelous view of the blue sea, listening to the waves crashing against the shore. It’s fantastic, right? Almost too good to be true. This part is the calm before the heavy storm. And when the storm comes, no amount of the wooden bridge can save you.
As cliché as it may sound, be prepared for what’s coming next.
The final part is the most epic and surprisingly unhinged. I had to put down the book several times to take a deep breath before going back to reading. Don’t get me wrong, they were all good. I repeat—all good. This is where everything that happened circles back to where it begins. This is where the story tells the truth about the Legend of the Fell Wraith. And when I discovered the truth… oh my fucking God.
Nothing prepares me for that.
Not even my wildest fantasies prepare me for the truth.
I was speechless, wordless, screaming, voiceless, breathless, gasping for air. I’m glad I was reading alone. If I were to read that part in public, people might think I was crazy, or worse, being possessed by the ghost of the Fell Wraith.
If you think the rollercoaster ride ends here, where the legend unfolds, you are sorely mistaken. It’s the beginning of the end. And the ending is…. well… let’s say I cannot find the right word to describe it. To even begin would be a great disrespect to the story and the author himself. The ending is beyond imagination. Mind-blowing. I mean, I might have taken a few guesses of what might happen in the end, but when it did actually happen, I was both shocked and impressed at the same time.
I do not believe there is a better alternative ending to the story. This is perfection. Not too much, not too less. Just the perfect ending that leaves the reader wanting to re-read immediately to see what they have been missing since the beginning. I know I would. I want to see every detail. Every hint. Every line. Every dialogue. I want to see them all.
These past few weeks have been one of the most enjoyable rides. Mother Naked makes me laugh, scream, and kick my feet in the air. Though I cannot say much about the story, I take pride in saying that Pearl is my spirit animal, my favorite character. I fell in love with his sarcasm, but especially the way he sees the world. He was being realistic and truthful, not only to himself, but to Mother Naked too. Despite living in a harsh, cold world, I find a fraction of his heart to be warm and gentle—in his own way. And that’s what makes the character so much more admirable.
How?
That’s the mystery you must discover yourself.
Mother Naked is the first English novel I read. Which I’m glad it was. It has everything there needs to be. The mystery, the horror, the sarcasm, the laugh, the sadness, the grief, the truth, the unfairness between the rustic and the noble. What else do we need? If Mother Naked was a steak, I would say, to add more to the story would be overcooked, to take something out of the story would be undercooked. This book is perfectly and beautifully written, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
I have a habit of downloading movies and music if I have to go offline. Let's say take a flight or a road trip. Something to pass the time. Mother Naked has become my version of a downloaded movie that I can put in my bag and take it with me literally everywhere. One I can re-read again and again and still somehow miss the most important details hidden between the lines. And that’s what makes the story even more fascinating every time I read it.
Though I must say, these are just my personal experiences and opinions. I could have interpreted the book wrong. I could misunderstand its meaning. This is only how I understand it. And who knows, I could be wrong.
But to be sure of it, you have to read it yourself.
Marvelous book. Great story. Epic ending. Utterly speechless.
เข้าสู่ระบบเพื่อแสดงความคิดเห็น
Log in