A review by cloudedreads
Cicadas Sing of Summer Graves by Quinn Connor

adventurous emotional informative mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

For people looking for a perfect summer read that would have just the right blend of sticky heat, fiction based on true stories and thoroughly woven-in supernatural elements - this is it, search no further. With a slow and unassuming start, the story pulls you in without you noticing, and only lets to resurface for a breath after it’s over.

 

The book follows three girls on a single summer as their lives become interwoven with one anothers’, as well as the very special lake, in the center of it all. Cassie has lived a spit distance from the lake all her life, but she can’t even force herself to look at it now. Lark has returned to the lake of her summers, but it’s not a vacation this time. June is always on the move, and the sleepy town near the lake is just her next stop. Each one has her own secrets to carry, but so does the lake - and it’s no longer keeping quiet about them.

 

I wouldn’t want to give out too much about the book, but one thing is worth mentioning (or repeating, in this case) - it has supernatural elements. I am not sure how I missed that when reading the synopsis, but I was definitely surprised to figure that out on my own at around twenty five percent mark. 

 

What I appreciated the most, and what is, in my very subjective opinion, the strongest part of the story, is the descriptions. I am a visual person and this text provided me with such vivid characterization and depictions of scenes and feelings and location, I felt like I could actually see it all unfolding in front of me. It also goes without saying (but I am going to say it) - the rich history and real life horror of putting infrastructure above peoples lives held me captive and interested in the story much more than I anticipated, making this book one that really has something for everyone to enjoy.

 

I received an advance review copy from Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.