I was interested in this book due to the Southern setting and realistic Louisiana small town, with dying agriculture (pecan) commerce. Initially the story grabbed me, as it was so realistic to small towns in our state, holding on by the fingertips, to keep their town from being incorporated into the county and loosing it's identity, But then it sorta fell flat for me, and I had to put it down for awhile and concentrate on other books for the month, and then go back to it. As the sisters sense change coming to town, it does in ways they never expected and this is where the magic part of the story comes in. Once it settles in, then the second party of the story really happens. It's a good allegorical tale, and if you know small towns, you'll appreciate how Quinn reaches and finds their soul and brings it to light.

3.5 rating

Rating: 3/5 stars

Last year around this time I reviewed Quinn Connor’s debut novel Cicada’s Sing of Summer Graves and gave it 3-stars. I remember it vividly, because it was one of my biggest disappointments of the year. Not because it was a bad book, but because it was a 3-star execution of a set of 5-star ideas. This year, a strange time-loop thing seems to be going on, as I had the exact same experience with Connor’s sophomore novel…
It’s hard to give an overarching plot synopsis, or mention comp-titles, as it would spoil a very significant twist that occurs about 50-60% of the way through the novel. Instead, I’ll paint a picture of the scene and set-up for you, as that’s incidentally where Quinn Connor is at their best too.

The Pecan Children takes us to Clearwater, a deeply isolated Arkansas town sustained by the lush pecan orchards that surround it and are tied closely together with the local culture. We meet the Clearwater-sisters, descendants of the towns founders and owners of the largest orchard that is rumoured to hold special power over the land. Lil Clearwater has continued their family’s legacy in maintaining the orchard, whereas her sister Sasha left town long ago for a more lively existence in the city. Now, in the long and hot days approaching the annual Pecan Festival, Sasha has returned home. What should be a joyful reunion soon turns dark, as an ancient rot from deep beneath their family roots begins to take shape again.

What I loved:
Quinn Connor is a queen when it comes to setting the “Southern Ghostly Town” scene. Just like in Cicadas Sing of Summer Graves, you can almost feel the blazing heat in the air, taste Autumns baked goods, and smell the sweet scent of warm pecans coming off the pages. The images this book paints in your mind could fill a canvas, and their settings wouldn’t be out of place in the real world. Cicadas’ Prosper was a town I’d love to visit for a summer-vacation, and the same can be said for Clearwater’s Pecan Festival.
Another strong parallel to their debut is how layered in motifs and symbolism it is. Where Cicadas at times spread itself thin in mixing too many different metaphors, The Pecan Children remains true to the central Garden of Eden motif, which adds to its strength.

What I didn’t love:
Again, a repeat of the sins of their debut; The Pecan Children lacks in terms of pacing and focus of the narrative. The first 60% or so (pre-twist) are incredibly slow, meandering and failed to engage me. Some character-build up and dropped puzzle-pieces were necessary to make the twist work, but this was too much, for too long. I tabbed my copy at the point where I predicted the twist (around the 30% mark), and had the reveal been around there, I would’ve felt there was the exact right amount of set-up present.
Partially because the set-up is so long and drawn out, the ending doesn’t feel completely satisfying. Some magical- and mystery-elements are never resolved and the emotional pay-off didn’t hit me the way it was supposed to.
Perhaps it’s a me-thing, but it’s a critique I often find myself having with books written by author-duo’s. It’s like the fact there isn’t a “single brain” keeping oversight over the whole creates a lack of focus and cohesion that I particularly notice.
Overall very similar in vibes and themes to Cicadas Sing of Summer Graves, so if you liked that one, this is a safe bet to pick up as well.

Many thanks to Sourcebooks for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.

I really enjoyed this one. It kept me engaged and reading had had some twists I wasn't prepared for. I want to read it again so that I can see what I missed the first time. Definitely recommend this one!

First off...DISCLAIMER: this title was up for grabs on NetGalley (in the Read Now section). Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark for providing a temporary ecopy. This didn't influence my review in any way.

SURPRISE, SURPRISE

The Pecan Children ended up going in a different direction than I had anticipated, and I mean it in the best possible sense. Based on the synopsis (which has all the reasons to be vague, since with books like this one, spoilers are just around the corner), I expected a contemporary story with a strong supernatural core - a troubled sibling relationship on the backdrop of a dilapidated town rife with secrets and malevolent forces. Now that I know what I know, I realise that the synopsis isn't meant to be misleading, and truth be told, it encapsulates the book fairly well...on a level. The fact is, The Pecan Children is SO. MUCH. MORE than its blurb lets on, and even if the authors start dropping a certain set of clues early in the story, I wasn't prepared for the scope and manner of the big reveal - and its implications. In hindsight, the twist is not only jaw-dropping and exciting, but it perfectly fits the claustrophobic, lethargic setting, and it's an equally perfect vehicle for the "allegory of decay in small-town America" the editorial notes promise. Also, in lieu of a supernatural mystery, this book turned out to be a strong specimen of the magical realism genre, though with elements that straddle the line between the two. Another pleasant surprise, since through the magical realism lens, the social commentary and sibling dynamic get to shine in a way that a mere supernatural context wouldn't have allowed.

FALSELY FAMILIAR

If the magical realism angle is a win, the contemporary elements are just as poignant. Lil is the sister who stayed and became the family orchard's caretaker (though not by choice), not to mention, the keeper of a devastating secret - and "keeper" might be the key word here for more than one reason, since Lil seems to be the only thing that prevents the town from succumbing to decay...though even she doesn't realise to what extent. Sasha (Lil's twin, a lesbian and a photographer) is the sister who got away, only to return home temporarily in order to reconnect with her sibling and her past. Add to the mix Lil's old flame (whom she had a devastating breakup with when he asked her to leave with him) and Sasha's (apparently unrequited) teenhood crush, both back in town after a long while, and you have a complex web of relationships...where not everything is how it seems. Seriously, if these pairings (both sisterly and romantic) seem to walk a well-trodden path, you'll soon find out that there's a lot more to them that meets the eye, and you'll fall in love with these characters in the process (especially Autumn, Sasha's crush, baker exquisite and keeper of a huge piece of the narrative puzzle). I'm not going to say more about the characters (secondary ones included) because I would spoil basically everything if I did - but I will say that in the end, when the truth finally emerges and the last twist occurs, you'll have had your heart broken and repaired in multiple ways. Atmospheric, creepy and tender at the same time, harsh and sad but ultimately hopeful, inventive and mind-bending, The Pecan Children is a not-to-miss book for every (dark) magical realism lover out there who's looking for something off the beaten track - and a shower of emotions.

The Pecan Children pulls you in immediately with its eerie, creepy feel. Set in a remote sleepy town in the southern United States we meet two estranged twin sisters. One has remained on the family pecan orchard and the other wanders back somewhat reluctantly. From mysteriously closed roads to random fires set about, the two come together to solve the mystery that plagues their tiny town.
The conflict within this story ebbs and flows and I enjoyed the complexity of the main characters.
This book is beautifully written with a surprising ending twist.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read The Pecan Children and give my honest review.

The Pecan Children by Quinn Connor blends Southern atmosphere with supernatural and magical realism.

Lil and Sasha, twin sisters, are stewards of a Pecan orchard. But only one is the true steward. In a small town, there is something that's not right. Kudzu is taking control of everything. There are mysterious fires, and houses are burning, but Lil can not leave. Can Lil and Sasha figure out the reason before it's too late?

This book has a lot of gothic atmosphere and supernatural vibes. That was the major part of why I finished the book. Though it has a character driven plot, I personally think it is an extremely plot driven story. The first half of the book was a little difficult to get into for me, but I enjoyed the second half a little better. I would have enjoyed the book a more if there would have been some history behind the orchard. It was an ok read for me.

Thank you, Sourcebooks Landmark, for this book.

The Pecan Children is beautifully written in such a way that you almost feel drowsy at first, like the languorous heat of summer enveloping you. There’s little odd moments at first; some flickering lights from fires, little superstitions, the feeling of something amiss though nothing that jumps outright at you. This is what makes this book so effective.

If you like beautiful prose, Southern Gothic, magical realism of a David Lynchian quality then look no further.

5 stars

I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley, however my review is completely unbiased and entirely my own personal opinion.

Definitely make sure you have a snack while reading this! The food descriptions are incredible!!

This book absolutely took me by surprise. It’s a slow start with a lot of moving pieces, but it is so worth it once things fall into place. In hindsight the pace is good, it works well being a cozy paranormal thriller. There’s more than a few twists and it definitely kept me from putting this down!

The imagery is absolutely spectacular. I was blown away by the constant descriptiveness and the curating of a small-town vibe. I felt right at home throughout the entire book, so much so that I felt I could vividly see everything that was going on.

This was such a heartfelt way to explore not only family relationships, but romantic, and community ties. I was constantly blown away by just how deep and significant those came to be. Finishing this book truly left such a warm glow in my soul. It was truly a pleasure to be able to experience this world.

This book was a vibe for sure! Very atmospheric and dark, which I love. Also loved the sister story.

A beautifully haunting tale of being trapped in a small town where nothing is as what it seems. This book was captivating - I couldn't put it down!

This was a challenging read for me. I loved the author's descriptions - her writing is beautiful - and I suppose that's why I stuck with it. I really didn't enjoy what she did with the plot, though. It left too many holes for my taste.

My publisher selected this as a discussion book, and the discussion is set to open in a few days (6/6). I suggested that we not review the book until we see what our readership thinks of it. Personally, I'm leaning toward not reviewing it. If we do move forward, though, I'll post an update here with the full review.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. This was such an enchanting read! It started slow but eventually picked up midway through. The gothic vibe and atmosphere was a character in itself. Sometimes a bit creepy but captivating story

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark, NetGalley and authors Quinn Connor for my gifted physical copy and e-arc!!

When I read the summary of this one, I was so excited. I thought it would be just my thing! But unfortunately, I struggled through most of it and just couldn’t engage. The sense of small town, creepy, mysterious, strange-things-happening-here vibes are on point and held so much potential … but it just never seemed to take off and didn’t succeed in pulling me into that place of captivity where I can’t put the story down.

And although the writing is sophisticated and lyrical … it felt a little hard to break through the words and figure out what was going on. I was confused. A lot. Still not sure what really was happening there. I really wish I would of liked this one better … sigh.

The authors definitely succeeded in offering a southern gothic that is shrouded in mystery and masked in dream-like vibes where you don’t really know what’s real and what is just playing with your mind. Personally, I like my stories a little more clear, but if you like atmospheric magical realism, then give it go! It may be the one that grabs you, haunts you and won’t let you go!

Real Rating: 3.5 / 5 Stars

The Pecan Children is a book that walks a trail I’ve been loving the last year or two: a mix of folklore, romance, low fantasy or magical realism (take your pick), and a generous splash of darkness. Does it walk the trail as well as other books in this vein I’ve read and reviewed? Maybe not. It’s not an entirely wasteful read, either.

At times this book can feel like part of it is magical realism and part of it verges on fairy tale, almost like there are two disparate books happening within the same book (there would be spoilers here if I said much more about that aspect), and I was honestly more intrigued by the book within the book than I was with the book I was reading; however, the inclusion of that interesting fairy-tale aspect is what kept me invested enough in The Pecan Children to keep reading until the end.

Quinn Connor (which is a pen name for two separate authors writing together) has an interesting story to tell, I simply felt it was told in a very predictable and rote way for the most part. The more fantastical aspects of this book is what saved it from becoming too familiar, but there was still so much of this book that felt like deja vu.

I still say you should check it out if you like unique folklore added to your fiction, if you like sapphic love stories, if you like ancestral mysteries, and if you love that eerie feeling of, “something’s not right in this town”.

I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.

File Under: Folk Fantasy/LGBTQ Fantasy/LGBTQ Romance/Magical Realism

Though I didn't connect fully with The Pecan Children, I loved the language, the rural-southern-gothic setting, and I look forward to more from this author(s). The use of kudzu in the narrative was particularly fantastic (when I was a kid, we joked that it would grow over us if we moved to slowly)

This is absolutely beautiful and I am so glad I was able to get a copy. Would you stay and fight for your small town? I probably would.

This was a strange little story. Nothing like what I expected and yet I found myself still turning the pages.
It was different to say the least and does kinda border on a horror story.

This book felt really slow in the beginning - but the rest of the book more than made up for it! I feel like I don't want to say anything because that might spoil everything but if you are looking for a magical and mystical read which is downright eerie at times then this is the book for you! I loved it!

And, as always with Quinn Connor books, the cover is absolutely gorgeous!

I loved Connor’s debut novel so I was very excited to read more from them. Love that Connor gives trigger warnings list at the start of their books as well.

I was pulled in by the mysterious plot and setting right away! Atmospheric, eerie southern gothic small town which was well described, it felt like I was there. I love that Quinn Connor’s books always give an acknowledgment of the indigenous peoples of the area the stories are set in, and I once again learned some of the history of the area. Which for this book meant learning about the origins of Pecan trees in the US!

Connor has a way of making me terrified of small southern towns with water 😂 I felt like I really got to know the characters, especially the twins. They were well developed and I enjoyed watching their relationship dynamics. The romance subplots were fairly well written as well, they added to the story instead of detracting from it which can be hard to do; plus the chemistry really came alive through the writing.

The twist had my jaw dropped!! I wanted to keep reading but the next chapter was so long and I needed sleep 😭 there was maybe one minor twist/reveal that didn’t surprise me just because the way it was described earlier in the book. I assumed it was supposed to be that way and known to everyone but apparently not 😂

Some places the story could drag and become a little telling over showing but for the most part I was hooked and engaged, not wanting to stop reading! The ending was mostly tied up nicely but with some open endedness which is exactly how I like my endings. I was left with one nagging question however that I really wish we got more background info on 😭

Overall an entertaining, unique read that I enjoyed! Quinn Connor is now a fave for me, and an author I’ll be looking forward to reading more of in the future!

Rating 4.5 rounded down to 4

Yeah, no. I tried reading this book a few times but I could never get into it. The novel has a really slow start, but my biggest reason for DNFing this is the author's writing style. The language felt overly verbose, using a lot of five dollar words. It's the authors' sophmore novel but it felt like they were trying too hard.

Who uses the word 'Disquietude'? And the sentence "She could hitchhike straight out of here to that sweltering, flatter-than-flat city where the flesh starts are." I don't get it. If that's a typo I don't even know what it really would be. Or which word is actually the typo.