I stayed to the very end on this read, but had a hard time pulling the three storylines of Cassie, Lark and June together, other than their common location. The lake remained after the drowning of a community, and was a spooky character on its own. The stories of the three women are written and set off in parts, full of description and dialogue, with rotating happenings, people, parts and pieces, all of which became less comprehensible as the read progressed. Mea culpa, most likely.

*A sincere thank you to Quinn Connor, Sourcebooks Landmark, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and independently review.* #CicadasSingOfSummerGraves #NetGalley

This was just okay. It was hard to tell the chapters apart as bc the voices were so similar. I wish it had more atmosphere and more about the magic, which seemed out of place.

A atmospheric Southern Gothic tale steeped in chilling mystery. Decades after a deadly flood washed away the town of Prosper, three teens connected to the tragedy are drawn together when an artifact surfaces from the flooded valley. As they uncover secrets from the fateful disaster, they battle trauma, visions, and the restless ghosts of Prosper's history. Although slow in parts, enjoyed this very much

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

I couldn't get through this title. It ended up not being for me, but I hope it finds a hope with other readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I'm a big fan of Southern Gothic, enjoyed the ending, and am fascinated by towns that were flooded by dams. Felt like there were too many POVs and I had a difficult time keeping track.

While I like the description of the book, I could not get into it. The writing style was not for me, but I do think would appeal to others that like atmospheric historical fiction novels. It was difficult for me to really "sink into" the book as I often do.

This novella was a beautifully written commentary on how women are pitted against one another for fear of the power they would have if they emboldened one another instead. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the writing and would definitely recommend it. My only criticism is that it felt too short - more of a short story and less of a novella. But I honestly think I felt this way only because I wanted to continue reading and getting to know both Limos and Demeter more, hearing more about their story and their individual characters.

Overall, I loved Food for Thought and highly recommend it.

The atmosphere in this book was amazing, and it really picked up after the first half. A town that had been destroyed long ago by yellow fever and flooding of the land. The book underlined the confusing state of the town as it were. Ghosts of the past haunt the valley. Three girls with different stories explore family and attempt to move on with their lives. Lots of family history that leads you thru each girls life
I enjoyed reading and recommend others to read this.

A multi-genre tale based in the lakeside town of Prosper, Arkansas - with hints of historical fiction, magical realism, ghosts from the past, coming-of-age and a wee bit of romance. Cassie lives in the town of Prosper and runs an old antique store inherited from her grandfather. Lark is visiting from Memphis to ready their old houseboat on the lake for sale. June is looking for a new start in life and staying with her aunt who is the local pastor. Cassie's brother Bolt is on a summer visit to the town. Then there's a whole cast of other characters like Lark's aunt Valerie and her son Mitch who run the local resort, the hotshot developer Jeff Daley and his son Rig, June's aunt Eliza and a visiting fireworks salesman called Jack.

The storyline and plot hold a lot of promise but the writing is repetitive in parts and the narrative confusingly switches from one character to another. Once you get the whole cast of characters in place, then you can go about figuring out this complex tale. A throwback to the times when the town was hit by a yellow fever epidemic and flooded due to a dam-burst and lives and loves were lost forever.

Thank you Netgalley, Sourcebooks Landmark and Quinn Connor for the ARC

3 / 5 ⭐️'ˢ

“Cicadas Sing of Summer Graves” By Quinn Connor

📕 Edition: eBook & Audiobook

An enchanting and eerie tale. This atmospheric story has elements of mystery, history, and the supernatural.

🌊 The backdrop of a small lakeside town plagued by yellow fever and a devastating flood provides a chilling setting for the narrative. The author's vivid descriptions make you feel the sweltering summer heat and the weight of the secrets buried beneath the water.

📦 The mysterious locked box discovered in the lake serves as the catalyst for an enthralling journey. The characters, Cassie, Lark, and June have personal struggles and connections to the town's past that adds depth to the story.

👻 As they grapple with their intertwined destinies and confront the ghosts of old Prosper, the plot unfolds with a perfect blend of suspense and supernatural elements.

Thank you @NetGalley, Quinn Connor and @bookmarked for providing me with this ARC.

Cicadas Sing of Summer Graves by Quinn Connor is a beautifully written haunting ghost story. Southern gothic mystery suspense at its finest! I can't wait to see what Connor writes next!

I really enjoyed this book! I was hooked from page 1. I didn’t want it to end. The story and characters were amazing.

I thought this story was so beautifully written, and it's a debut?! I loved the different elements to the story - thriller, fantasy, magic, suspense! It has a little bit of everything. I loved the different characters, their stories, quirks and how complex each one was.

Read if you enjoy:
• small towns
• slow paced
• decades old secrets
• multiple POVs
• dark, twisty
• atmospheric

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC of Cicadas Sing of Summer Graves.
The premise of this book is so intriguing but unfortunately, I just couldn't get into it and ended up not finishing the book. I found the style of writing a bit difficult to follow but I think it was mostly me and my comprehension rather than the authors. I might try picking it up again at some point.

Very atmospheric southern Gothic with multiple POVs and some magical realism. I really enjoyed it and will be picking up future books from this author.

I did not finish this one, it was not for me, I couldn't relate to the characters, and just did not care for the story.

- thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc to review!

- i was invested in this story from the description alone, but as i continued to read, i began to feel lost within the story. it was ambitious and detailed in the description, but the execution felt lackluster and scattered, affecting how i felt when i finished the novel, feeling like nothing had happened. i wish this was something i could enjoy, but i didn't, but there is an audience for this book, it just wasn't me.

Cicadas Sing of Summer Graves" is a rich tapestry of genres, blending elements I hadn't anticipated, which turned out to be a delightful revelation. While I typically lean towards psychological thrillers, this story seamlessly interweaves magical realism, suspense, fantasy, and even a touch of horror. Set in Prosper, Arkansas and recounted through diverse perspectives, its dark undertones possess an almost poetic allure. The narrative revolves around Lake Prosper submerging Buckville, Arkansas, following a dam breach. When a cryptic box emerges from the lake decades later, it poses the haunting question: "Does anything ever truly remain hidden?" Although the pacing is unhurried, it's an engrossing read.

I wanted to love this book. I really tried.

The writing is beautiful, which is both the positive and the negative for me.

We have several POV characters, but each one's voice is exactly the same. They're introspective and poetic in the way they think and view life. The language is nearly identical. Clearly this is the author's style, rather than anything specific to each character. I couldn't tell one from another.

The writing has a strong literary quality, which I enjoyed in small doses, but after a while it became mentally exhausting.

For this style of writing to work for me, I need a single POV or a clear difference between characters. Unfortunately, I couldn't connect here.

DNF