Cicadas Sing of Summer Graves is a slow creep into Southern gothic horror. It's the best part of Stephen King horrors, where something isn't quite right in a small town but you're not quite sure what until little by little the terrors and the mourning and the despair settle over you. But in the depth of terrible things, there are moments of wonder, and little childhood mysteries to be explored.

For less than 400 pages, you'd think there would be too much going on in this book but everything is tight enough, and comes together well enough. It's atmospheric in a way you can nearly feel the humidity on your skin, or smell the scent of flowers in hair or honeycomb or the acrid smoke of fireworks. Rich descriptors put you as a reader right there.

As a reader I appreciated the forward about the inspirations for Prosper and its generational history, the threat of gentrification and even a sort of colonialism. It took me a bit of time to get into the story, but I think upon reflection that was more to do with me, myself, and I rather than the book itself. I was a bit confused by the quick switches in POVs within chapters, even with a break marker, but again that's probably a personal preference/habit thing. When I got into it, I really got into it, both worried and needing to know what happened to each of the main characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Sourcebooks Landmark and to Quinn Connor for the borrow approval in exchange for this honest review.

This was a lovely and incredibly written read. The POV alternates between Cassie, Lark, and June- three women whose lives intertwine in the town of Prosper. A flood once swept through the town and left behind a lake, which becomes the main backdrop. It's a haunting story tied together with grief, love, mystery, and magical realism.

The prose is poetic and beautiful, and the worldbuilding is beyond what I could've asked for. Every face and moment is thoroughly described and detailed, really dragging you into the nostalgia of the past summers near the lake. I really loved to see the queer relationship between the characters as well, especially given the location in a small town in Arkansas.
The story did start off slow and it was a lot to take in at first. The variance of the three points of view was hard to follow, but once you understand the characters and their backgrounds it became a lot easier to differentiate between them. I almost want less of the unnecessary details to have more of the overall mystery. There are a lot of descriptions but a small chunk of the real depth of the story. Overall it was an enjoyable read and had surprising elements that I wasn't expecting at first. I would recommend for anyone that likes magical realism and mystery with LGBTQ+ characters, this will be what you're looking for!
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for allowing me to review!

Cicadas Sing of Summer Graves is the debut novel by Quinn Connor. It’s about a town called Prosper, Arkansas where all the residents once became sick with Yellow Fever and then the local dam broke flooding out all the residents and leaving behind only a lake. The story has 3 main characters, Cassie, Lark and June. Cassie grew up on the lake but is now afraid of the water. As a young girl, she once had a friend, almost like an imaginary friend named Catfish. But was she imaginary or not? Lark is there to clean out her fathers houseboat and get it ready to be sold. It’s filled with telescopes that seem almost magical in nature. June is a lost soul that is there staying with her aunt at the local church. This story centers around grief and loss but a big part of it is about friendship and family. It’s historical and yet modern, with a touch of magical realism or supernatural and it also contains a LGBTQ relationship between 2 of the main characters. At first it was hard for me to keep track of all the characters and make sense of the story, but once I did I started to enjoy it more. I think it’s because I’m not used to reading a lot of magical realism or supernatural and that’s why I struggled with this book. I do believe the premise behind the story was really good. I’d like to thank Sourcebooks Landmark for approving my request and NetGalley for the arc. I’d be interested in reading more by this author in the future. I’m giving this book a 3 star rating!

The Author’s Note at the beginning, shares the fact that what happened in the town of Prosper is based on real life events. Buckville, Arkansas was flooded( the why will be revealed), and the devastation that followed was truly horrific.
Cicadas Sing of Summer Graves focuses on three main characters: Lark,June, and Cassie. Each of them are struggling in their own way. We learn how they spent their childhood summers and the ghosts that lie underneath the surface of this lake. It’s almost impossible to talk about the story and what each of them go through, especially in the now, without treading into spoiler infested lake water.
The story is eerie in the beginning, and it captures the feel of a hot and hazy summer. The lake may be a place for houseboats and summer vacations, but it is what lies below the surface that had me constantly on edge, wondering what havoc the ghosts in the lake would play on this story. The discovery of a box unearthed from the lake has major repercussions for this town, and for all those who live here.
Did I have a favorite POV? I would say Cassie. What she went through in the then and what she is still going through in the now gripped me the most. It’s such a tragic story and the fact that it is based on a real event was just so sad. I didn’t put this book down until I was done.

Cicadas Sing of Summer Graves is a haunting and breathtaking novel that delves into the legacies of love, family, and the lingering impact of grief. Set in the submerged town of Prosper, Arkansas, the story follows three women who confront the secrets buried beneath the town's flooded past. Cassie, Lark, and June, each grappling with their own burdens, are bound together as they navigate a feverish summer filled with bizarre visions, old mysteries, and the ghosts of their ancestors. The narrative is a liquid southern Gothic that captivates readers with its seductive and beautiful prose, weaving together history, friendship, tragedy, and the blurred lines between reality and fantasy. Prepare to be immersed in a dreamy and atmospheric world that will hold you spellbound until the very end.

The book's evocative descriptions transport readers to the hot, sticky lakeside summer, creating an eerie and immersive reading experience. With its combination of mystery, magical realism, and the complexities of love and loss, Cicadas Sing of Summer Graves is a masterful blend of history and fantasy that will hook you with it's slow burn.

There's horror and there's an atmospheric story, there's emotions and moving on. There's three fascinating characters and ghosts from the past.
A haunting, atmospheric, and well written story that made me feel a lot of different emotions.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

Cicadas Sing of Summer Graves
Quinn Connor
⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is a slow, gothic fiction, haunted story of a town called Prosper, Arkansas.
After the Dam and a horrible storm this town was swallowed by the water taking the town and everyone with it. The haunting of the town still affects people connected to the ones lost in the lake.

I do feel like the main plot felt lost for a lot of the book, if it weren’t for loving the characters like I did it may have been a DNF for me. I wish the world building, though really well written, was less and we got more of the chaos, horror and haunting that there was.

I enjoyed the ending, it made it feel complete. But I do not feel as though I loved it, but I did enjoy reading it and feeling like I was there because the world building was wonderful.

Ever wonder if you can find a beach read, that is beachy but NOT beachy? LOL. I found it for you- this book has what you're looking for- escapism, interesting characters, a backstory with drama, beach trauma, a hint of Southern Gothic charm, summer at the lake, and a touch of the supernatural. Yup- it's got it ALL. And better still, it all works into a magical book that will have you fully sated and happy at the end of it- maybe there is some cosmic justice in the world, or evil gets it's due. nAy which way you say, Prosper will work it's way into your imagine and Cassie, Lark and June into your hearts! don't miss this book- it will be on everyone's read list before the Summer really begins!

This was a fine book but the multiple points of view made it difficult to keep track of characters. Each point of view felt similar to the others and it was lacking a clear genre

i don't know how to say this in a fancy way but IT WAS JUST SO BEAUTIFUL. the writing, the plot, the characters, the entire premise, all of it. i mean the language of the book, you know the whole concept of using the words in such a way that you just stop and stare because everything you just read is so eerily haunting and exceedingly beautiful. if i was left so speechless by this, then why the four stars you might ask. that's because even though i loved it so much that i might reread it, i also felt like there was something missing like i can't place exactly what was missing but something but other than that its an incredible read.

“Cicadas Sing of Summer Graves” by Quinn Connor tells the story of old Prosper, a town that was flooded to eradicate yellow fever from the area. Now years later, a chest is unearthed from the waters bringing the past back to life. In the present day, three descendents of that tragedy put the pieces together of what really transpired in the past with a feverish summer of their own.

Connor sets the stage with some interesting characters: Cassie, Lark, and June. Cassie never left the lake and now works at her grandfather’s antique show. She is considered the town’s odd bird, but she’s truly clever. Lark returns to the lake to clean out her family’s boat, filled with a collection of telescopes that seemed to make her dad go mad. She’s afraid one look through a telescope will send her down the same path. June is running from herself and finds refuge will family in town. She wants to settle down, but will Prosper help her or make her desire to run stronger? These three see the town for what it is and the past tugs at them.

This book genuinely felt like a fever dream. With magical realism, bordering on horror, themes, it was hard to tell what was real and what wasn’t at times. Visions from the past town, a few ghost-ish people from the depths, and a magic garden, create an interesting world, that at times could be overwhelming.

In the end, I gave this book 3 stars. I enjoyed the idea of it, but some aspects felt too trippy for me. The characters tended to mix together in my brain, so it took a bit for the pace to pick up. Overall, it felt like a melancholy kind of read.

Thanks to Sourcebook Landmark and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book comes out on May 30th!

I finished Cicadas Sing of Summer Graves by Quinn Connor and I'm ready to share my thoughts.

This story follows three women that have different ties to the old town of Prosper buried under the lake. And its dark history haunts even our days.

This book feels like a blend of genres and I'm not completely sure where it lends. Magical realism, contemporary fiction, some horror elements, paranormal.

It was a very immersive read, surprisingly immersive read, luckily immersive read.
Some books drive me through them by plot, others use the character development to guide me. But this book didn't feel like these categories.

The characters were interesting, but after finishing the book I think that one POV could have worked much better and solved some of the book's problems. Multi POV structure broke the tension and also made the plot very slow.

And it felt like there was just not enough of the plot. I grasped some general plot direction only after 50% of the book.

And for horror elements to work, we just needed more of the story, more eerie events, more disturbing clues. We spent too much time doing regular things with characters and even though some unnerving moments were blended into it, it wasn't enough for me.

So usually it's a DNF. But in the case of this book, I was charmed into continuing. I enjoyed the way of writing and the atmosphere the book created - it was immersive. I felt this hot summer, some wrongness in the air, the sensation that you don't belong, the pressure of others who always want something from you. It was a strong side of the book.

Another thing I liked about the book is the discussion of memories, our heritage, and family dynamics - it resonated with me and made me feel a variety of emotions.

In the end, I feel like the book wanted to do too many things, and because of it didn't deliver in many of them.

Though it was an interesting debut and I'm curious about the next book by Quinn Connor, I feel the potential for me.

And I'm grateful to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for providing me with this advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest review.

What a magical and fantastic read this was! At times melancholic, at times nail-bitingly spooky, and at times tender and beautiful, I enjoyed this book immensely! As a fan of magical realism I submerged myself fully in this story and I am eager to see what these authors come up with next.

Cicadas Sing of Summer Graves tells the story of a summer by the lake in Arkansas when secrets begin to come up to the surface – there used to be a town there, in the 1930’s, but it got flooded when a dam failed, drowning everything and everyone in its wake. Cassie has lived by the lake her whole life, Lark used to spend summers there with her family and June's aunt is the town minister – now they are all connected by old legends and a mysterious wooden box.

I loved spending time with Lark, June, Bolt, Cassie and Mitch and am sad to let them go, while at the same time I am really happy I got to spend some time with them. Thank you so much NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark and Quinn Connor for the ARC!

I really like stories that focus a lot on descriptions and this is such a story. Reading it I could feel the hot summer, it was like I was living it. I have to admit that I'd really like to spend my summer at Lake Prosper listening to the cicadas sing. I was very moved by this story about 3 women who are connected to each other and who will discover the secrets that this area hides.
It is a very descriptive, slow paced, atmospheric and mysterious story told by MPV. I really enjoyed it and I will re-read it soon as hot summer is on its way here !

Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for this ARC.

DNF at 20%. I found the characters difficult to keep up with, especially with the descriptive writing and how the chapters changed characters in different orders in each chapter. I usually love atmospheric novels, but the writing was too descriptive about the setting and did not really explain the plot or the characters well. This book was just not for me.

The lakeside town of Prosper, Arkansas has known horror. Years ago, the town flooded after the dam failed during an unexpected storm, drowning everyone trapped in the valley - and their secrets, too.

The novel follows three women as they discover the haunting history of Prosper through their connections to relics that float up to the lake's surface and visits from a ghost or two!

It took me a while to get into this story. The writing felt uneven in the beginning and I had trouble keeping track of the three MCs as they swapped chapters. Eventually, the story fell into a rhythm and I learned each character's "voice". It wasn't until I finished the book that I learned the book is actually written by two authors, which seems to explain the trouble I had in the beginning.

Once I became familiar with these characters, I fell into the atmosphere: a hot summer in a small southern town with hauntings that will give you some thrills and chills!
Magic realism, fantasy, horror, and southern gothic combine for this haunting tale.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Cicadas Sing of Summer Graves is scheduled for release on May 30, 2023.

This was the strangest story. It’s told by multiple characters which I found confusing at times. It has a bit of a supernatural feel to it. It doesn’t play out like I was expecting.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

“Lark’s fingertips paused inches above the surface of the water, far above the lost necklace. It called to her in a low, coaxing voice from below. But she somehow knew, if she dove, if her head went below the water’s surface, even for a moment, she’d never come up again.”

ARC Review
3.5 Stars

I want to start this review by saying that will I did enjoy this book, it's a book that took me a while to finish. It's not a book for everyone. If you like a slow-paced book and more than anything an ambiguous atmosphere for the book, then yea jump right in, if when it comes to thrillers you are more of a psychological than horror this might also be a great fit. There is some romance there and it's top-tier the best of tropes!

I think that the writing style is beautiful but it slows the story by a lot, there were a lot of unnecessary things and moments that felt like they stagger the plot and made it a lot more complicated than it needed to be.

I think that the main idea of the book is brilliant and the characters are lovely and so easy to love. The whole idea of this secret in a town that everyone kinda knows about but it's also just ghost stories that its part of the culture was great! I think that the ambiance was there, and the plot was so good but there were a lot of misses too when it came to the delivery. Like unnecessary POVs from both Bolt and Lark, not enough backstory of the town, and not enough time to create the lore of everything.

I did love how the characters interacted but there was an opportunity to make them closer and developed a relationship between them.

My main issue now, was that for the most part, Cassie and June really took the stage during the majority of the book, even tho Lark had a fantastic and fascinating part of the stories foundations, she had one of the strongest connections to the mystery and one of the biggest tools to solve it yet I feel like we barely saw her, I feel like we barely learn stuff about her and never really got one on one with her because she became a plot device for June's story, I know that I complained we got unnecessary POVS from lark but like I said they could have easily been June or Cassie povs and it would have helped move the story and the plot instead of making it feel staged. Then Bolt was introduced as one of the POV characters but with him was like whenever he was there, we were there to chill with him, and the plot barely advanced, there was a lot of cool stuff being set in his POV but it was never used or concluded and instead, a lot of his POVs felt unnecessary

SPOILERS

Things I loved and saved the book in my opinion was how well developed and what a wonderful character Cassie was, she never felt short, she was such a great character to follow around but sadly I felt like I never had enough of her. I wasn't expecting a romance at all in this book but I loved it! She and Mitch had the loveliest romance story and it had my absolute favorite tropes of all time!!! the romance and Cassie were really the only things keeping me interested in this book. I am the happiest and I teared up when Cassie went into the water and she had her happy ending with Mitch.

The plot twist or resolution of the story was pretty good. It really took me by surprise and made the book a lot better in my opinion. I felt like everything we saw made sense and it really did make the three girls' story connect.

I wish we had seen more about Dayle and what went down there and I wished we had seen more of Lark and her telescopes. I wish we had seen more of the past of the town and more flashbacks.

Multiple voices tell this tale of a town that was submerged in the 1950s. Lake Prosper is a mysterious dreadful place of secrets but three young women- Cassie, Lark, and June find themselves looking for answers when a locked box is found, There's magical realism, a touch of the gothic, and perhaps a bit too much going on but it's an interesting entry into the summer reading pile. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC.

Read it if you like:
•Mystery & Suspense
•Magical Realism
•Multiple POVs
•Secrets & History
•Southern Gothic Elements
•Romance ( A hint of romance but not gothic)
•LGBTQIAP

The author’s writing is exquisite. The book is mysterious, secretive, haunting and evocative. The town of Prosper is inspired by Buckville, Arkansas, which was flooded in the 1950s by the Blakely Mountain Dam and is now beneath Lake Ouachita.

In 1937, Prosper was a perfect town before yellow fever gripped everyone and drowned the town with their secrets and history too. Prosper is Cassie’s childhood home but she is harbouring a perilous secret as she avoids going near lake, Cassie’s father avoids coming to town, June feels an inevitable connection with the lake and ghosts of past and haunting visions have gripped Lark. When Cassie’s mom visits in Summer, she learns more about her Grandad. Cassie loved her Grandad and she reminisces her childhood memories. And everyone has secrets in the family.

But after decades, something is brewing in the lake and strange things are happening like water is turning red, and mysterious locked box gets pulled up from the depth of water. Bound together in the complex web of history, mystery, secrets, haunting, ghostly imprints and ruins of the lost town, they must get to the bottom of the mystery and find their way out of it before darkness and secrets grips them and drowns them too like it did decades ago.

It’s about friendship, love, childhood memories, legacy left behind, solving the unsolved mystery and retrieving the lost town.


Thank you Netgalley, Author and Publisher.