What do you think?
Rate this book
The Pecan Children
For fans of The Midnight Library and Swamplandia! comes a breathtaking story of magical realism about two sisters, deeply tied to their small Southern town, fighting to break free of the darkness swallowing the land―and its endless cycle of pecan harvests―whole. In the struggling town of Clearwater, Arkansas, the annual pecan harvest is a time of both celebration and heartbreak. But even as families are forced to sell their orchards and move away, Lil Clearwater refuses to let go of the land her family has been rooted to for generations. She feels a connection to the earth that goes deeper than memory―which is why she reluctantly accepts her sister Sasha's return to the fold after so long away. It should be a time of joyful reconnection, yet it isn't long before things take a dark turn. There is rot hiding beneath the surface, and hungry eyes that watch from the dark. As phantom fires begin to light up the night and troubling local folklore is revealed to be all too true, the sisters―confronted with the ghosts of their pasts―come to the stark realization that in the kudzu-choked South, nothing is ever as it seems.
352 pages, Paperback
First published June 4, 2024
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
Read
May 28, 2024Life is too short to read boring books.
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.
June 20, 2024
Check Out My Scrapbook Review On Instagram
There’s a fine line between beauty and horror, and The Pecan Children walks it with grace. Lyrical and moving prose combined with weird ghostly magic leads to a reading experience unlike any other.
The small, Southern, orchard town where the Clearwater twins live never seems to change. If you’re a fan of Big Fish, you may draw a comparison to the town of Spectre. This novel moves with the same dreamlike magic, with something sinister lurking beneath the surface, until Quinn Conner pulls the rug out from under you around 60% of the way through. That’s all I can say without spoiling anything.
Ghostly fires flicker in and out of existence. Seemingly sentient kudzu vines swallow anything in their path. A tree with golden pecans keeps a secret covenant with the orchard keepers. Old familiar patterns repeat themselves.
If you like magical realism and Southern Gothic hauntings, this one is for you. If you prefer your stories to be more straightforward, then it won’t be your jam; there is mind-fuckery afoot. I for one will be thinking about this book for a long time.
There’s a fine line between beauty and horror, and The Pecan Children walks it with grace. Lyrical and moving prose combined with weird ghostly magic leads to a reading experience unlike any other.
The small, Southern, orchard town where the Clearwater twins live never seems to change. If you’re a fan of Big Fish, you may draw a comparison to the town of Spectre. This novel moves with the same dreamlike magic, with something sinister lurking beneath the surface, until Quinn Conner pulls the rug out from under you around 60% of the way through. That’s all I can say without spoiling anything.
Ghostly fires flicker in and out of existence. Seemingly sentient kudzu vines swallow anything in their path. A tree with golden pecans keeps a secret covenant with the orchard keepers. Old familiar patterns repeat themselves.
If you like magical realism and Southern Gothic hauntings, this one is for you. If you prefer your stories to be more straightforward, then it won’t be your jam; there is mind-fuckery afoot. I for one will be thinking about this book for a long time.
July 9, 2024
2.5 stars Thanks to BookBrowse and Sourcebooks Landmark for a copy of this book to read and review. Published June 4, 2024.
This book has a complex story. There are not many characters, but the story is sometimes hard to follow and understand. I was about two-thirds of the way into the book before I fully understood it. And from that point on it just kept changing and growing - not all fully comprehensibly - but continually evolving.
People who like magical realism would like this book - as those who also like shape shifters. I found that I liked a lot of the book, but there were also parts that I never really comprehended. Which for me, leaves holes in a story.
This book has a complex story. There are not many characters, but the story is sometimes hard to follow and understand. I was about two-thirds of the way into the book before I fully understood it. And from that point on it just kept changing and growing - not all fully comprehensibly - but continually evolving.
People who like magical realism would like this book - as those who also like shape shifters. I found that I liked a lot of the book, but there were also parts that I never really comprehended. Which for me, leaves holes in a story.
December 19, 2023
This book was an unique experience for me. I was pulled to the story because of the pecan harvest which is something unique in itself, and yet, at first it felt like there's something wrong with the book. It was a little slow, and sometimes a little boring, and I thought that I would suggest that author needs to craft and correct it a little. But it all resolved somewgere in the half of the story. There was an interesting turn I didn't see coming and it turned out that it was worth waiting because from then on the story sped up and a lot of my confusions came out clear.
I liked that I never really knew when the novels was coming. It was an interesting read, very weird but neat in prose and, as it turned out, in a planning too. I would recommend the book for fans of magical realism, and weird, unique stories that you won't find often.
4,5 star but I will turn up to 5 :)
I liked that I never really knew when the novels was coming. It was an interesting read, very weird but neat in prose and, as it turned out, in a planning too. I would recommend the book for fans of magical realism, and weird, unique stories that you won't find often.
4,5 star but I will turn up to 5 :)
June 8, 2024
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 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.
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 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.
July 8, 2024
I don’t want to spoil the story for you but I will tell you The Pecan Children took me on a great journey.
# The Pecan Children
# 7/5/2024 ~ 7/8/2024
# 3.0 / 5.0
# The Pecan Children
# 7/5/2024 ~ 7/8/2024
# 3.0 / 5.0
January 26, 2024
Sapphic
Mysterious
Coming of age
Fantasy
Adult Fiction
After the death of her mother, Lil Clearwater has to look after the family pecan orchard on her own until her twin, Sasha, returns home after living in New York.
Their home town is slowly dilapidating as families are forced to sell their land and move away, but the twins refuse to sell their mother’s land.
The annual pecan festival brings home all their old friends including Jason, Lil’s ex and Autumn, the best friend and object of Sasha’s affection.
Nothing in town is as it seems. Phantom fires, children born from pecan trees and someone known as the hungry man are but a few things wrong with the town.
This book was weird but good, the same way that Twin Peaks was weird but good. At times you don’t know what’s going on but you keep going. In the end everything comes together but leaves you with so many questions.
The book was extremely creepy and I highly recommend to it others who enjoy reading weird and wonderful stories.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.
A huge thank you to Netgalley for this copy
Mysterious
Coming of age
Fantasy
Adult Fiction
After the death of her mother, Lil Clearwater has to look after the family pecan orchard on her own until her twin, Sasha, returns home after living in New York.
Their home town is slowly dilapidating as families are forced to sell their land and move away, but the twins refuse to sell their mother’s land.
The annual pecan festival brings home all their old friends including Jason, Lil’s ex and Autumn, the best friend and object of Sasha’s affection.
Nothing in town is as it seems. Phantom fires, children born from pecan trees and someone known as the hungry man are but a few things wrong with the town.
This book was weird but good, the same way that Twin Peaks was weird but good. At times you don’t know what’s going on but you keep going. In the end everything comes together but leaves you with so many questions.
The book was extremely creepy and I highly recommend to it others who enjoy reading weird and wonderful stories.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.
A huge thank you to Netgalley for this copy
![Profile Image for Kayla ✧♥︎ [semi-hiatus].](https://cdn.statically.io/img/i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1689261583i/27042246._UX200_CR0,23,200,200_.jpg)
May 8, 2024
4.25 ★
Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for an eARC of this book!
This book was very intriguing, weird and unique! I was super excited to read this one. When I read the blurb I thought the premise was really interesting and I couldn't wait to dive right into it.
The book absolutely draaaaagged in the first half. Like holy shit the pacing was slow. Although I suppose it is a necessary evil since it sets up a great image/atmosphere/vibe for the town. It fully redeems itself in the last half. Once it hits about 55% it turns into a super captivating and thrilling read. Albeit a bit confusing (to me anyways haha).
I really wish there was more of "horror" vibe to it. It felt more fantasy then horror IMO but did give southern gothic (which I loooved). The atmosphere was very well done.
Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for an eARC of this book!
This book was very intriguing, weird and unique! I was super excited to read this one. When I read the blurb I thought the premise was really interesting and I couldn't wait to dive right into it.
The book absolutely draaaaagged in the first half. Like holy shit the pacing was slow. Although I suppose it is a necessary evil since it sets up a great image/atmosphere/vibe for the town. It fully redeems itself in the last half. Once it hits about 55% it turns into a super captivating and thrilling read. Albeit a bit confusing (to me anyways haha).
I really wish there was more of "horror" vibe to it. It felt more fantasy then horror IMO but did give southern gothic (which I loooved). The atmosphere was very well done.
June 8, 2024
Excerpt from my review - originally published at Offbeat YA.
Pros: Atmospheric, engrossing, spellbinding, inventive, ultimately hopeful.
Cons: Slow first half (if you prefer stories with more than a modicum of action). While the scope of the main twist (and its implications) will take readers completely by surprise, the authors dropped enough clues to have them figure out the basic truth early on. Some questions remain unanswered. The ending may be too open for certain readers.
WARNING! Fires/burns, wounds, near-drownings, some gore. Death of a parent (off-page). A couple of (tame) sex scenes.
Will appeal to: Those who like sibling narratives. Those who enjoy a mixture of cozy and unsettling, beauty and horror. Those who are in for a unique kind of haunting.
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. [...]
Whole review here.
Pros: Atmospheric, engrossing, spellbinding, inventive, ultimately hopeful.
Cons: Slow first half (if you prefer stories with more than a modicum of action). While the scope of the main twist (and its implications) will take readers completely by surprise, the authors dropped enough clues to have them figure out the basic truth early on. Some questions remain unanswered. The ending may be too open for certain readers.
WARNING! Fires/burns, wounds, near-drownings, some gore. Death of a parent (off-page). A couple of (tame) sex scenes.
Will appeal to: Those who like sibling narratives. Those who enjoy a mixture of cozy and unsettling, beauty and horror. Those who are in for a unique kind of haunting.
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. [...]
Whole review here.
May 16, 2024
A lovely example of magical realism. I was transported into the small town, this book was full of Southern soul. Reading about the pecan harvest was so interesting. The book is strange and not all is clear, loved that element. Definitely one for those who like some creepy undertones and intrigue. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.
June 21, 2024
3.5 Stars.
The last 20% felt like a fever dream, but I was along for the ride. They are excellent with setting and world building.
The last 20% felt like a fever dream, but I was along for the ride. They are excellent with setting and world building.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Shelved as 'dnf'
June 25, 2024I have had the worst time with audiobooks lately. I just can not concentrate
April 23, 2024
THE PECAN CHILDREN by Quinn Connor
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC of The Pecan Children
3.5 stars
A Southern Gothic with magical realism. Set on a pecan plantation in rural Arkansas where twin sisters grew up. Lil Clearwater works tirelessly in the pecan orchard left to her by her mother. Her balance is thrown off when her high school sweetheart returns to their depressed hometown. Sasha, Lil’s twin sister, has reluctantly returned back home from New York. Autumn, Sasha’s childhood crush is back in town also.
Confronted with ghosts of their past and family secrets. A quirky and haunting read, drenched in folklore.
The first half seemed a bit slow and second half was just okay for me. I did like the small southern town and the creepiness of the story. Many others have really liked this book. This is my first read from these authors and would read other books. Quinn Connor is one pen in two hands: Robyn Barrow and Alexandra Cronin.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC of The Pecan Children
3.5 stars
A Southern Gothic with magical realism. Set on a pecan plantation in rural Arkansas where twin sisters grew up. Lil Clearwater works tirelessly in the pecan orchard left to her by her mother. Her balance is thrown off when her high school sweetheart returns to their depressed hometown. Sasha, Lil’s twin sister, has reluctantly returned back home from New York. Autumn, Sasha’s childhood crush is back in town also.
Confronted with ghosts of their past and family secrets. A quirky and haunting read, drenched in folklore.
The first half seemed a bit slow and second half was just okay for me. I did like the small southern town and the creepiness of the story. Many others have really liked this book. This is my first read from these authors and would read other books. Quinn Connor is one pen in two hands: Robyn Barrow and Alexandra Cronin.
January 18, 2024
The Pecan Children is the hauntingly beautiful story of the Clearwater sisters, set in a Southern town famous for it's bountiful pecan trees. Lil, the primary caretaker for the family's orchard, has dutifully harvested the pecans season after season since the death of her mother. Sasha, recently returned to town after years living in New York, is trying to find her place in town without stepping on her sister's toes in their orchard. I loved both Lil and Sasha, and the secondary characters that shaped their everyday life.
Laced with hauntingly beautiful magic, this absolutely engrossing Sothern gothic tale is one of my favorite reads in a long time. I was a huge fan of Quinn Connor's debut novel, Cicadas Sing Of Summer Graves, so I was so excited to be able to get an early copy of The Pecan Children, and I felt like it absolutely lived up to my expectations. I look forward to reading whatever these authors put out in the future!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of The Pecan Children in exchange for my honest review.
Laced with hauntingly beautiful magic, this absolutely engrossing Sothern gothic tale is one of my favorite reads in a long time. I was a huge fan of Quinn Connor's debut novel, Cicadas Sing Of Summer Graves, so I was so excited to be able to get an early copy of The Pecan Children, and I felt like it absolutely lived up to my expectations. I look forward to reading whatever these authors put out in the future!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of The Pecan Children in exchange for my honest review.
January 13, 2024
First of all thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this digital ARC of The Pecan Children .
This was such a unique read and kind of gave me Where the Crawdads Sing vibes .
Be prepared to be transported to a small southern town following the lives of twin sisters Lil and Sasha , where we find ourselves lured into something mysterious on the edge of Pecan Trees and its dark and haunting , people are losing their homes and there is a realism that is playing with the sisters ...and an ending I didn't see coming !! 👀
I thought the writing in this novel was so well crafted and loved the character building , thank you Quinn Connor for this ARC, I really enjoyed this different and unique read !!
This was such a unique read and kind of gave me Where the Crawdads Sing vibes .
Be prepared to be transported to a small southern town following the lives of twin sisters Lil and Sasha , where we find ourselves lured into something mysterious on the edge of Pecan Trees and its dark and haunting , people are losing their homes and there is a realism that is playing with the sisters ...and an ending I didn't see coming !! 👀
I thought the writing in this novel was so well crafted and loved the character building , thank you Quinn Connor for this ARC, I really enjoyed this different and unique read !!
May 8, 2024
Small town living creates an image for everyone almost immediately. It’s where people are familiar with each other on a first-name basis. Business owners in the heart of the city are well established. Everyone attends the churches in town and enjoys local festivals. All others that are from different places fall into the “outcast” category. They tend to feel like misfits.
Lil is the good daughter that never left. After her mother passed, she stayed to take care of the pecan orchard. She felt like it was her duty even though she would have liked to do other things with her time. Her twin sister, Sasha, was an artist with more of a desire for excitement. She was free to go and explore photography and the big-city living with all sorts of relationships. When Sasha returned years later, her sister, Lil, was now set in her ways. While they were close as kids, their relationship had changed.
The words had me under some kind of spell where I was reading almost nonstop. My somewhat rigid thinking had to open up to the fantastical events with names of elegant homes on the pecan orchard fields. It was engaging with conversations the sisters had with each other. They were older and their parents had passed. Yet, they still were competing as rivals and maybe that was where I could relate in some ways. They both had past relationships making the reader hope for the best.
It was thought-provoking and the book questions at the end made me pause. There were lots of layers with parts about relationships, small-town living and being labeled as a queer. Sasha’s best friend had a bakery in town which made me want to go there. This imaginative story would make a dynamic discussion with book friends.
My thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of June 4, 2024.
Lil is the good daughter that never left. After her mother passed, she stayed to take care of the pecan orchard. She felt like it was her duty even though she would have liked to do other things with her time. Her twin sister, Sasha, was an artist with more of a desire for excitement. She was free to go and explore photography and the big-city living with all sorts of relationships. When Sasha returned years later, her sister, Lil, was now set in her ways. While they were close as kids, their relationship had changed.
The words had me under some kind of spell where I was reading almost nonstop. My somewhat rigid thinking had to open up to the fantastical events with names of elegant homes on the pecan orchard fields. It was engaging with conversations the sisters had with each other. They were older and their parents had passed. Yet, they still were competing as rivals and maybe that was where I could relate in some ways. They both had past relationships making the reader hope for the best.
It was thought-provoking and the book questions at the end made me pause. There were lots of layers with parts about relationships, small-town living and being labeled as a queer. Sasha’s best friend had a bakery in town which made me want to go there. This imaginative story would make a dynamic discussion with book friends.
My thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of June 4, 2024.
June 6, 2024
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 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.
Want to read
December 8, 2023A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
January 29, 2024
Gorgeous stunning horror realism with gorgeous world building and a hefty plant and soil motifs thanks for the arf
May 21, 2024
The Pecan Children starts off as an atmospheric look into two sisters, Lil and Sasha, and their last stand at their family-owned pecan farm. As a buyer edges in and threatens them, strange and ominous things begin happening and the sisters will have to decide whether fighting or fleeing is the right choice.
I began this book enjoying it and finding myself intrigued by the fractured relationship between the two sisters and the way the human threat (the buyer) was combined with the supernatural threat. There’s also some great food descriptions so that definitely didn’t hurt, and the way Connor brought this town was great. I didn’t mind the romances either that were set up for the two sisters…until I did.
The supernatural aspects and relationship between Lil and Sasha are so interesting yet the romance gets the most time. I couldn’t root for either of these couples because their dynamics were so bland. We spend time with Lil and her love interest in particular to a grating degree and the dialogue was hard to get through because there’s no sense of chemistry between them. They are childhood friends but they didn’t feel like people that had spent years together.
I enjoyed Sasha and her love interest a bit more but then we get a sudden POV from her love interest about 60% of the way through that threw me for a loop. I don’t mind sudden POVs but this one didn’t reveal anything especially interesting about the character and her dynamic with Sasha at all so I question why it was there. By this point, I was having a hard time getting through the book but did want to know more about the unnatural things going on.
Then the twist happened. Then another twist happened. I hated them both. They felt tacked on and shoved into the story for drama although I could see them being done well if there was more set up. They don’t feel earned and resolving them was too easy so it wasn’t satisfying to read. On top of this, I had zero investment in any of the characters at this point so I didn’t care what happened to them.
Overall, The Pecan Children had a promising start but as I read more, the lower my rating dropped. In particular, I’m disappointed in the way Sasha and Lil’s relationship never evolves throughout the book. There is so much time spent on the sisters and their respective love interests whom they have little to no chemistry with that I felt frustrated because I wanted to know more about Lil and Sasha and see their relationship either heal or completely break. The supernatural element is great in theory and were my favorite bits but ultimately felt poorly executed.
Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!
I began this book enjoying it and finding myself intrigued by the fractured relationship between the two sisters and the way the human threat (the buyer) was combined with the supernatural threat. There’s also some great food descriptions so that definitely didn’t hurt, and the way Connor brought this town was great. I didn’t mind the romances either that were set up for the two sisters…until I did.
The supernatural aspects and relationship between Lil and Sasha are so interesting yet the romance gets the most time. I couldn’t root for either of these couples because their dynamics were so bland. We spend time with Lil and her love interest in particular to a grating degree and the dialogue was hard to get through because there’s no sense of chemistry between them. They are childhood friends but they didn’t feel like people that had spent years together.
I enjoyed Sasha and her love interest a bit more but then we get a sudden POV from her love interest about 60% of the way through that threw me for a loop. I don’t mind sudden POVs but this one didn’t reveal anything especially interesting about the character and her dynamic with Sasha at all so I question why it was there. By this point, I was having a hard time getting through the book but did want to know more about the unnatural things going on.
Then the twist happened. Then another twist happened. I hated them both. They felt tacked on and shoved into the story for drama although I could see them being done well if there was more set up. They don’t feel earned and resolving them was too easy so it wasn’t satisfying to read. On top of this, I had zero investment in any of the characters at this point so I didn’t care what happened to them.
Overall, The Pecan Children had a promising start but as I read more, the lower my rating dropped. In particular, I’m disappointed in the way Sasha and Lil’s relationship never evolves throughout the book. There is so much time spent on the sisters and their respective love interests whom they have little to no chemistry with that I felt frustrated because I wanted to know more about Lil and Sasha and see their relationship either heal or completely break. The supernatural element is great in theory and were my favorite bits but ultimately felt poorly executed.
Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!
April 10, 2024
The Pecan Children leads you through a haunting experience of small town life, exposing all the mystery and fear that comes with growing up trapped in a tiny speck of civilization while the wider world grows up around you. With poetic language, Quinn Connor etches into your soul every pang of fear and happy thrill of wondering if you should burrow down into the familiar warmth of nostalgia or fight tooth and nail to change who you are. The prose is incredibly unique, making your heart ache in a hundred unexpected ways.
The characters wrap around each other like the unending fields of kudzu that blanket their home, emotions and pasts intertwined in a soft mess of adoration, hurt, sacrifice and guilt. Even if you don’t prefer love stories, you’ll savor watching these people try to figure out how to love each other in every possible way—romantic, platonic, familial.
Soaked in folklore that sets itself ablaze by the end, The Pecan Children makes you feel like you’re ready to call the ending only to pile on its well-earned twists during its fast paced second and third acts.
This story is tailored for readers who love the uncanny reality of southern gothic stories while still being allowed to hold on to shimmery hope for a happy ending. I absolutely loved getting lost in it.
The characters wrap around each other like the unending fields of kudzu that blanket their home, emotions and pasts intertwined in a soft mess of adoration, hurt, sacrifice and guilt. Even if you don’t prefer love stories, you’ll savor watching these people try to figure out how to love each other in every possible way—romantic, platonic, familial.
Soaked in folklore that sets itself ablaze by the end, The Pecan Children makes you feel like you’re ready to call the ending only to pile on its well-earned twists during its fast paced second and third acts.
This story is tailored for readers who love the uncanny reality of southern gothic stories while still being allowed to hold on to shimmery hope for a happy ending. I absolutely loved getting lost in it.
December 16, 2023
First off thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book!! It was so highly anticipated and after finishing it I’m thrilled to confirm what I already suspected - Quinn Connor (Robyn Barrow & Alex Cronin) are new auto buy authors for me.
Much like Cicadas Sing of Summer Graves, The Pecan Children transports us to a sleepy southern town soaked in mystery. These books have such a unique way of making you feel at home in the world but also so very unsettled at the same time.
Lil and Sasha are twins who couldn’t really be much different if they tried. One is trying to live up to her mother’s expectations while the other wants nothing more than to run away and find a new life where she feels wanted.
Our setting is a kudzu (take a shot every time that word pops up) infested reality where children might fall out of pecan trees and a beast lurks in the shadows with a relentless hunger. I followed our characters along overgrown train tracks, dilapidated treehouses and buildings that seem to spontaneously combust then put themselves out in the blink of an eye.
Follow the breadcrumbs through this twisty tale of sapphic love, symbiotic connections, magical realism and more pecans than you can shake a stick at. But don’t stay in place too long… nature is very much alive and has the habit of becoming attached if you stick around.
Much like Cicadas Sing of Summer Graves, The Pecan Children transports us to a sleepy southern town soaked in mystery. These books have such a unique way of making you feel at home in the world but also so very unsettled at the same time.
Lil and Sasha are twins who couldn’t really be much different if they tried. One is trying to live up to her mother’s expectations while the other wants nothing more than to run away and find a new life where she feels wanted.
Our setting is a kudzu (take a shot every time that word pops up) infested reality where children might fall out of pecan trees and a beast lurks in the shadows with a relentless hunger. I followed our characters along overgrown train tracks, dilapidated treehouses and buildings that seem to spontaneously combust then put themselves out in the blink of an eye.
Follow the breadcrumbs through this twisty tale of sapphic love, symbiotic connections, magical realism and more pecans than you can shake a stick at. But don’t stay in place too long… nature is very much alive and has the habit of becoming attached if you stick around.
February 16, 2024
The story's uniqueness did not disappoint. The concept of pecan children was like nothing I'd encountered before. The imaginative plot intrigued me.
However, I found I had a mixed experience reading this book. While I admired the book's imaginative leaps and bounds, I struggled to fully immerse myself in the narrative. At times, the pacing felt sluggish, and I found myself trudging through paragraphs, yearning for a quicker tempo to keep me engaged. Yet, amidst the frustration, there was a strange allure to the book's weirdness. Its refusal to conform to convention was both refreshing and oddly charming.
While the unpredictability of the storyline kept me engaged, I was left with lingering questions about the pecan children themselves. The loose ending, while open to interpretation, felt unsatisfying, leaving me wanting more closure.
While the story dares to be different and embraces its oddities, its pacing issues and unresolved mysteries prevent it from truly capturing my heart. Yet, for those willing to embrace the journey, it offers a glimpse into a world where the line between reality and imagination blurs, despite its flaws.
However, I found I had a mixed experience reading this book. While I admired the book's imaginative leaps and bounds, I struggled to fully immerse myself in the narrative. At times, the pacing felt sluggish, and I found myself trudging through paragraphs, yearning for a quicker tempo to keep me engaged. Yet, amidst the frustration, there was a strange allure to the book's weirdness. Its refusal to conform to convention was both refreshing and oddly charming.
While the unpredictability of the storyline kept me engaged, I was left with lingering questions about the pecan children themselves. The loose ending, while open to interpretation, felt unsatisfying, leaving me wanting more closure.
While the story dares to be different and embraces its oddities, its pacing issues and unresolved mysteries prevent it from truly capturing my heart. Yet, for those willing to embrace the journey, it offers a glimpse into a world where the line between reality and imagination blurs, despite its flaws.
June 15, 2024
It may surprise some readers that author Quinn Connor is the pen-name for the writing duo of Robyn Barrow and Alex Cronin, who had quite an impact with their previous novel CIDADAS SING OF SUMMER GRAVES. The two met in college and have been communicating through the medium of writing ever since.
Their latest novel, THE PECAN CHILDREN, is a nice juicy slice of Southern Gothic with a mix of horror and magical realism that could only have been set in this region of the country. The protagonists are twin sisters --- I love the irony there --- Lil and Sasha Clearwater, who live in the small southern town in Arkansas that is named for their family surname. Clearwater is most famous for their annual harvest of luscious pecans and the pecan orchard that mostly Lil looks after faithfully produces the finest in the area.
Hard times have hit Clearwater economically and so many of their friends and neighbors have left. Sasha has returned with her small riverboat in an attempt to rekindle the special bond she has with her twin and try to save their land from the many greedy, prying hands that would love to take it from them at a pittance of what it is worth. The enemies of the Clearwater sisters will soon learn, if they haven’t already suspected it, that the they are up not only two special young women but also a piece of land built in an area that is living, breathing, and capable of things that most would only dream up in their most fantastical nightmares. It is here where, amidst the kudzu and cries from the herons, comes the Southern Gothic Horror bit of the story that will keep the reader guessing and continuing to read this engaging tale with a sense and feeling of wonder.
The time that Sasha spent away from Clearwater in New York accomplished two things. First, it expanded her horizons, secondly it made her forget a little. This is why the reconnection with homebody Lil is so important, because Lil becomes her memory. She reminds Sasha that the current difficult times are nothing new and that when they were young there were people that tried to coax their mother to sell their property and ‘raise her two young girls in Memphis.’ This is why they are better together and make a formidable team against the forces that oppose them. They have also learned how to use the haunted land, which used to scare them like a Stephen King novel when they were young, to their advantage.
Harvest time of the golden and magical pecans may very well be the answer for them. Lil knows that this fertile land would dry up were it managed by someone else, and that is why the dedication to the land will repay her and Sasha for their labor and commitment. The thing that they are able to take advantage of to come out on top in the end is using the powers and unexpected magic of the land to do their bidding. Much like the kudzu swallowed one of their young friends alive when they were children, the land remains a living and breathing creature with more supernatural power than the weak minded can imagine and the Clearwater sisters have found the perfect weapon in their battle to save their heritage.
The folklore of the region and the many characters, both from the present and the past, help to drive THE PECAN CHILDREN into interesting territory and the tale is never dull or uninteresting. For those not attuned to the ways of the American South, this will feel like time spent in a foreign country and the ageless supernatural elements give it an ancient and powerful atmosphere that will linger in your brain long after the story is finished.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
Their latest novel, THE PECAN CHILDREN, is a nice juicy slice of Southern Gothic with a mix of horror and magical realism that could only have been set in this region of the country. The protagonists are twin sisters --- I love the irony there --- Lil and Sasha Clearwater, who live in the small southern town in Arkansas that is named for their family surname. Clearwater is most famous for their annual harvest of luscious pecans and the pecan orchard that mostly Lil looks after faithfully produces the finest in the area.
Hard times have hit Clearwater economically and so many of their friends and neighbors have left. Sasha has returned with her small riverboat in an attempt to rekindle the special bond she has with her twin and try to save their land from the many greedy, prying hands that would love to take it from them at a pittance of what it is worth. The enemies of the Clearwater sisters will soon learn, if they haven’t already suspected it, that the they are up not only two special young women but also a piece of land built in an area that is living, breathing, and capable of things that most would only dream up in their most fantastical nightmares. It is here where, amidst the kudzu and cries from the herons, comes the Southern Gothic Horror bit of the story that will keep the reader guessing and continuing to read this engaging tale with a sense and feeling of wonder.
The time that Sasha spent away from Clearwater in New York accomplished two things. First, it expanded her horizons, secondly it made her forget a little. This is why the reconnection with homebody Lil is so important, because Lil becomes her memory. She reminds Sasha that the current difficult times are nothing new and that when they were young there were people that tried to coax their mother to sell their property and ‘raise her two young girls in Memphis.’ This is why they are better together and make a formidable team against the forces that oppose them. They have also learned how to use the haunted land, which used to scare them like a Stephen King novel when they were young, to their advantage.
Harvest time of the golden and magical pecans may very well be the answer for them. Lil knows that this fertile land would dry up were it managed by someone else, and that is why the dedication to the land will repay her and Sasha for their labor and commitment. The thing that they are able to take advantage of to come out on top in the end is using the powers and unexpected magic of the land to do their bidding. Much like the kudzu swallowed one of their young friends alive when they were children, the land remains a living and breathing creature with more supernatural power than the weak minded can imagine and the Clearwater sisters have found the perfect weapon in their battle to save their heritage.
The folklore of the region and the many characters, both from the present and the past, help to drive THE PECAN CHILDREN into interesting territory and the tale is never dull or uninteresting. For those not attuned to the ways of the American South, this will feel like time spent in a foreign country and the ageless supernatural elements give it an ancient and powerful atmosphere that will linger in your brain long after the story is finished.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
May 30, 2024
Rating 4.5 rounded down to 4 for goodreads
Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the eARC! 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 😭
⚠️SPOILER⚠️
Autumn stopped aging at 30 but was that because she never returned to the town after that age and when it got frozen? But then Lou is also a pecan child and if they didn’t know he was one, clearly means he aged. So how does the aging but living forever pieces work? How does one pecan child stop aging at 30 but the other stops aging around 50? Was that also because of the timing of the town being stuck in a time loop? But then how did pecan children live forever and age/stop the aging process prior to that? I NEED ANSWERS
END SPOILER
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!
TW/CW: child endangerment, neglect, death of parent (brief mention), fire, violence, dubious consent (brief), animal death, body horror, child death (brief)
Rep: lesbian MC, biracial MCs (white& Puerto Rican)
Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the eARC! 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 😭
⚠️SPOILER⚠️
Autumn stopped aging at 30 but was that because she never returned to the town after that age and when it got frozen? But then Lou is also a pecan child and if they didn’t know he was one, clearly means he aged. So how does the aging but living forever pieces work? How does one pecan child stop aging at 30 but the other stops aging around 50? Was that also because of the timing of the town being stuck in a time loop? But then how did pecan children live forever and age/stop the aging process prior to that? I NEED ANSWERS
END SPOILER
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!
TW/CW: child endangerment, neglect, death of parent (brief mention), fire, violence, dubious consent (brief), animal death, body horror, child death (brief)
Rep: lesbian MC, biracial MCs (white& Puerto Rican)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 6, 2024
In their haunting and magical sophomore novel, Quinn Connor once again take up the theme of "home." Lil and Sasha are twins, reunited after years apart in their dying rural Louisiana hometown, whose name no one can seem to quite remember. Their relationship is strained. Lil stayed home after high school, destined to take over the family pecan orchard, while Sasha went off to the east coast to study photography and forge a place for herself as a queer artist outside the bounds of her southern roots. When a neighbor's funeral draws the community together, including old friends and lovers who have long since moved on as well as sinister and mystical figures who emerge from the omnipresent kudzu, Lil and Sasha are forced to confront how far they will go to hold onto the home that they once knew and each other.
At its outset, this books seems relatively straightforward, but slowly at first and then very sharply, the authors draw from magical realism and outright horror to question Lil and Sasha's relationship to home. What are the repercussions loving and clinging to a place that is complicated? For Lil, devotion to the pecan orchard saddled her with responsibility, prevented her from exploring the world, and alienated her from her sister. For Sasha, life in a small town prevented her from being truly herself and actualizing love as a queer person. In The Pecan Children, that love is literally incendiary, as their life begins to rip at the seams, burning when glimmers of the truth begin to shine through.
The Pecan Children is an unsettling, but hopeful book. The authors make us believe in the possibilites of second changes, rekindled sisterhood, and queer joy. They assure us that everywhere we go, we can take a part of that place just for us. Like in their debut, Cicadas Sing of Summer Graves, we can love places with complicated histories, even if those places don't love us back. But they always remind us that this love will come at some kind of cost.
At its outset, this books seems relatively straightforward, but slowly at first and then very sharply, the authors draw from magical realism and outright horror to question Lil and Sasha's relationship to home. What are the repercussions loving and clinging to a place that is complicated? For Lil, devotion to the pecan orchard saddled her with responsibility, prevented her from exploring the world, and alienated her from her sister. For Sasha, life in a small town prevented her from being truly herself and actualizing love as a queer person. In The Pecan Children, that love is literally incendiary, as their life begins to rip at the seams, burning when glimmers of the truth begin to shine through.
The Pecan Children is an unsettling, but hopeful book. The authors make us believe in the possibilites of second changes, rekindled sisterhood, and queer joy. They assure us that everywhere we go, we can take a part of that place just for us. Like in their debut, Cicadas Sing of Summer Graves, we can love places with complicated histories, even if those places don't love us back. But they always remind us that this love will come at some kind of cost.
January 12, 2024
Am I bad for wishing this was weirder?
The biggest issue of this book is pacing, the first half ( until 55% ) dragged and I had to force myself to continue reading, only to finish the other 45% in a single evening. There were times I feared the authors had forgotten they were writing a horror - I've never actually seen a Hallmark movie, but the first half very much read like one. There was some foreshadowing sparkled along the way, but rather than evoking a sense of dread and tension, it just confused me.
And even then, the unnatural things happening were strange, rather than scary - with the exception of the "hungry man" who could have been much better built up. We learn everything we know about him through "telling" rather than showing, and we never actually see him do any of the implied bad things.
Without spoilers, multiple strange things are happening in this town at once and I actually liked the explanations we were given - but the authors didn't work hard enough to entwine them with each other. Perhaps, it would have been better if they chose just one to focus on and give more depth too. There are questions we were never given answers to and I wonder if it is because the authors have forgotten to answer them, or if they did so on purpose?
I don't think this is a bad book. There were many things that I liked ( the reveal about Lou had me sobbing ), including the ending - but perhaps it just wasn't for me? There was no character development, all the foreshadowing and even the mysteries just felt shallow. I wish the authors spent less time picking up pecans and more time building their lore.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for honest review.
The biggest issue of this book is pacing, the first half ( until 55% ) dragged and I had to force myself to continue reading, only to finish the other 45% in a single evening. There were times I feared the authors had forgotten they were writing a horror - I've never actually seen a Hallmark movie, but the first half very much read like one. There was some foreshadowing sparkled along the way, but rather than evoking a sense of dread and tension, it just confused me.
And even then, the unnatural things happening were strange, rather than scary - with the exception of the "hungry man" who could have been much better built up. We learn everything we know about him through "telling" rather than showing, and we never actually see him do any of the implied bad things.
Without spoilers, multiple strange things are happening in this town at once and I actually liked the explanations we were given - but the authors didn't work hard enough to entwine them with each other. Perhaps, it would have been better if they chose just one to focus on and give more depth too. There are questions we were never given answers to and I wonder if it is because the authors have forgotten to answer them, or if they did so on purpose?
I don't think this is a bad book. There were many things that I liked ( the reveal about Lou had me sobbing ), including the ending - but perhaps it just wasn't for me? There was no character development, all the foreshadowing and even the mysteries just felt shallow. I wish the authors spent less time picking up pecans and more time building their lore.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for honest review.
May 23, 2024
After loving Cicadas Sing of Summer Graves, I was so excited to get to read The Pecan Children, and Quinn Connor did not disappoint. There are a lot of elements that speak to the same themes - of rural small town decay, of stewardship of land, of familial relationships and queer ones in navigating a place in the world, and that slow sense of magical realism that creeps over the setting and the characters. There's a wonderful twist between parts 1 and 2 that I definitely didn't see coming and actually gasped out loud at - it's crafted and set up wonderfully, and going back to re-read the first few chapters was the first thing I did after finishing.
At its heart is the relationship between Lil and Sasha, twins who are both bound to the land through their family pecan orchard, but also constantly set just outside of things by their single mother, their Puerto Rican father, Sasha's queerness, and Lil's rebellious streak. It's an exploration of how to love a place and people but still want to escape it, and the balance between romanticizing the familiar to the point of ignoring its flaws and accepting change.
Once again, I love the atmosphere set up here - you can all but feel the change in the air during autumn, the shift in humidity and temperature, the smell of the broken kudzu vines, of the baked goods. It makes the subtle wrongness that starts to set in the longer the story goes feel that much more poignant. The way my heart broke for all of them at some point...
I do wish we got to explore the pecan children a little more, especially their links to the town and the bird traps, but overall I was utterly fascinated by the story Connor tells here. Also very charmed by the Summer Graves cameo!
At its heart is the relationship between Lil and Sasha, twins who are both bound to the land through their family pecan orchard, but also constantly set just outside of things by their single mother, their Puerto Rican father, Sasha's queerness, and Lil's rebellious streak. It's an exploration of how to love a place and people but still want to escape it, and the balance between romanticizing the familiar to the point of ignoring its flaws and accepting change.
Once again, I love the atmosphere set up here - you can all but feel the change in the air during autumn, the shift in humidity and temperature, the smell of the broken kudzu vines, of the baked goods. It makes the subtle wrongness that starts to set in the longer the story goes feel that much more poignant. The way my heart broke for all of them at some point...
I do wish we got to explore the pecan children a little more, especially their links to the town and the bird traps, but overall I was utterly fascinated by the story Connor tells here. Also very charmed by the Summer Graves cameo!
April 19, 2024
I want the last four days of my life back. What did I just read?! Let me say, I’m usually pretty good about setting boundaries and DNFing a book I don’t enjoy. This time, I felt obligated because I had an ARC and I feel like I owe it to someone follow through. I’ve quit ARCs before, but this time I kept reading the positive reviews encouraging the reader to stick it out, and second-guessing myself, and my own judgment. “It starts out slow, but if you can just make it to 30%… if you can push through to the big reveal at 60% it’s worth it”, and so on.
I wasn’t feeling it, but I kept on, and I should’ve listened to myself this time. By the time I got to 80% I was actively hating it and skimming to get to the end. I mean, I’ve invested this much of my time. I blew out my attention span and couldn’t read anything else this week that I actually enjoyed. I at least have to figure out how it ends!
This book is like a bad trip. Two decades ago, my friends and I were watching this movie (with Jake Gyllenhaal) called Donnie Darko over and over again, trying to figure out what was happening. The concept is similar here: you don’t really know what is true and what is hallucination, and time is folded over on itself. Just like that movie, my friends were hooked and loving it, but was just being dragged along for the ride. I resent all the time I spent trying to make it make sense.
By about 50% I thought that I might be able to give three stars. Gradually as I neared the end, the star count got lower and lower. I never give one star because I never finish a book that feels like a one star book. I guess there’s a first time for everything.
I wasn’t feeling it, but I kept on, and I should’ve listened to myself this time. By the time I got to 80% I was actively hating it and skimming to get to the end. I mean, I’ve invested this much of my time. I blew out my attention span and couldn’t read anything else this week that I actually enjoyed. I at least have to figure out how it ends!
This book is like a bad trip. Two decades ago, my friends and I were watching this movie (with Jake Gyllenhaal) called Donnie Darko over and over again, trying to figure out what was happening. The concept is similar here: you don’t really know what is true and what is hallucination, and time is folded over on itself. Just like that movie, my friends were hooked and loving it, but was just being dragged along for the ride. I resent all the time I spent trying to make it make sense.
By about 50% I thought that I might be able to give three stars. Gradually as I neared the end, the star count got lower and lower. I never give one star because I never finish a book that feels like a one star book. I guess there’s a first time for everything.
April 26, 2024
There is something so captivating about the magical realism genre in that you are positioned as a reader to recognize that magic is possible even in realistic settings.
"The Pecan Children" follows two sisters who are fighting for the survival of their small town, which is being slowly consumed by rot and darkness. Interested in knowing more? I certainly was! 😉
I absolutely love it when a book takes a turn that my mind never predicted. "The Pecan Children does that and so much more. You think this is about saving a small town until phenomena like phantom fires and children being born from pecan trees start occurring.
Also, this book explores the bond between twin sisters, which I truly enjoyed. Their relationship was not always amicable, which led to character growth and tension that grounded this book in reality.
Regarding the pace, the first 30% of this book is aimed at getting the reader totally immersed in this small town that is slowly dying. I am from a small Southern town, so images of kudzu consuming the town and abandoned buildings helped me be fully present in the plot.
THEN, we get our first twist, and things start barreling forward. Once the first reveal happens, a lightbulb goes off in my mind as I realize all the small clues in the first 30 percent that led up to this moment. My advice: go in blind, trust the authors, and enjoy the magic.
If you liked "The Midnight Library," "Swamplandia!," or any magical realism books, you will be swept up by the setting and plot of this one. Overall, this was a unique read that transported me to a desperate town and left me with an ending I did not see coming!
My rating: 4.5⭐
"The Pecan Children" follows two sisters who are fighting for the survival of their small town, which is being slowly consumed by rot and darkness. Interested in knowing more? I certainly was! 😉
I absolutely love it when a book takes a turn that my mind never predicted. "The Pecan Children does that and so much more. You think this is about saving a small town until phenomena like phantom fires and children being born from pecan trees start occurring.
Also, this book explores the bond between twin sisters, which I truly enjoyed. Their relationship was not always amicable, which led to character growth and tension that grounded this book in reality.
Regarding the pace, the first 30% of this book is aimed at getting the reader totally immersed in this small town that is slowly dying. I am from a small Southern town, so images of kudzu consuming the town and abandoned buildings helped me be fully present in the plot.
THEN, we get our first twist, and things start barreling forward. Once the first reveal happens, a lightbulb goes off in my mind as I realize all the small clues in the first 30 percent that led up to this moment. My advice: go in blind, trust the authors, and enjoy the magic.
If you liked "The Midnight Library," "Swamplandia!," or any magical realism books, you will be swept up by the setting and plot of this one. Overall, this was a unique read that transported me to a desperate town and left me with an ending I did not see coming!
My rating: 4.5⭐
Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews