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

In "Cicadas Sing of Summer Graves," Quinn Connor takes on the ambitious task of unraveling submerged histories and exploring the impact of "progress" on communities. While the execution falls slightly short of the goal, the book remains an engaging and thought-provoking read.

Inspired by the flooded town of Buckville, Arkansas, the story introduces us to Prosper, shaped by historical upheaval. At its center is Cassie, a character rich in quirks and fears. Connor's writing evokes an atmospheric world, vividly capturing Cassie's complexities and her enigmatic link to Catfish, a figure from her past.

Interwoven with Cassie's narrative are the intriguing lives of Lark and June, adding depth to the story's fabric.

However, as the plot advances, it reveals some narrative fissures. Amid the allure, the proliferation of storylines dilutes the core experience. The divergence into the Rig/Woody/Bolt/Sammy storyline, while potentially intriguing, detracts from the main narrative.

Despite this, "Cicadas Sing of Summer Graves" showcases Connor's talent. Their evocative prose immerses readers in the narrative's atmosphere. As a debut, the novel offers a glimpse into potential. The lesson is one of honing creativity for a more focused storytelling approach.

While not entirely capturing my heart, "Cicadas Sing of Summer Graves" establishes Quinn Connor as an author to watch. The blend of history, mystery, and atmosphere sets the stage for Connor's literary journey.

Unfortunately I could not finish this book, after quite a few chapters I wasn’t invested in the story or characters. The writing was descriptive and I could tell a lot of work went into this story it just wasn’t for me, I’m sure this novel is going to find its audience though.

The atmosphere in this book was amazing, and it really picked up after the first half. I must say that the start was a bit slow and sometimes confusing - I had a hard time keeping Lark and Cassie apart until quite late in the book - but somehow later on that added more atmosphere than it took. It underlined the confusing state of the town as it were.

Atmospheric, creepy, and strange, Cicadas Sing of Summer Graves was unlike anything I have read before. 🪰

Years ago, the town of Prosper, Arkansas was devastated by yellow fever, followed by the destruction of the dam that resulted in catastrophic flooding and decimating the town and its inhabitants. Now, decades later, secrets that have been buried underneath the lake are rising to the surface. Three women, each descendants of Old Prosper citizens, are thrown into another feverish summer where people begin acting strange and old ghosts are returning with a vengeance.

I really enjoyed the storyline of this book. The atmosphere was haunting with specks of magical realism throughout. However, the characters themselves fell flat for me at times. There were too many different POVs and the personalities of all the characters started to mesh together. But the plot and creativity made this book worth the read.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks for this arc

Sounds interesting in premise, not in execution. There are too many points of view. And then whoosh. The supernatural is involved. That part is pretty cool. There's a lot to unpack in this story and while some of it gets lost in the multiple viewpoints but strangely not multiple voices, there are engaging and interesting parts of the story. Solid 3 star

The ghosts of a lake side town are haunting three women who are connected to the history of the lake. Cassie-who's grandfather left her his vintage shop; Lark who is back in town to sell her father's boat and the telescopes he was obsessed with and might have driven him mad; and June who is trying to find a fresh start but finds a mysterious box in the lake instead.

I loved the southern setting and could tell that the authors either lived or are from the south. I do feel like they got the spookiness that *something* is going on with this lake but I feel like there was missing something. I specifically feel like there could have been more of a character exploration with June. Why was she in the town? I really liked her and Lark but didn't really get her character enough like I did with Cassie and Lark.

A town that had been destroyed long ago by yellow fever and flooding of the land. 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.

*I was graciously given a copy from Netgalley

Very, very interesting and eerie tale! I really enjoyed the characters, but the pacing was just a little too slow for my taste. That said, I think it was very fitting for the story itself; if this had been fast-paced, I might have lost interest quicker.

One of my favorite things is "The past coming back to haunt you," and this book really did deliver! 4/5 would recommend