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The Pecan Children
As impossible fires bloom through their slowly decaying Southern town, two sisters must reckon with the ghosts of a land that refuses to be forgotten.
In a small southern pecan town, the annual harvest is a time of both celebration and heartbreak. Even as families are forced to sell their orchards and move away, Lil Clearwater, keeper of a secret covenant with her land, swears she never will. When her twin Sasha returns to the dwindling town in hopes of reconnecting with the girl her heart never forgot, the sisters struggle to bridge their differences and share the immense burden of protecting their home from hungry forces intent on uprooting everything they love.
But there is rot hiding deep beneath the surface. Ghostly fires light up the night, and troubling local folklore is revealed to be all too true. Confronted with the phantoms of their pasts and the devastating threat to their future, the sisters come to the stark realization that in the kudzu-choked South, nothing is ever as it appears.
In a small southern pecan town, the annual harvest is a time of both celebration and heartbreak. Even as families are forced to sell their orchards and move away, Lil Clearwater, keeper of a secret covenant with her land, swears she never will. When her twin Sasha returns to the dwindling town in hopes of reconnecting with the girl her heart never forgot, the sisters struggle to bridge their differences and share the immense burden of protecting their home from hungry forces intent on uprooting everything they love.
But there is rot hiding deep beneath the surface. Ghostly fires light up the night, and troubling local folklore is revealed to be all too true. Confronted with the phantoms of their pasts and the devastating threat to their future, the sisters come to the stark realization that in the kudzu-choked South, nothing is ever as it appears.
352 pages, Paperback
First published June 4, 2024
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10811 people want to read
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May 28, 2024Life is too short to read boring books.
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.
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.
June 20, 2024
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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.
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October 24, 2024The writing style made it difficult for me to get into it. DNF’d pretty early on. Thanks to goodreads for the chance to review.
September 1, 2024
3.5⭐
Got to speak with the authors in book club and they were SO SWEET AND COOL AND NICE ❤️❤️
Got to speak with the authors in book club and they were SO SWEET AND COOL AND NICE ❤️❤️
September 1, 2024
my favourite bookclub pick!!!
February 24, 2025
This was very, VERY slow.....
Luckily, I was in the mood for a leisure read. I actually enjoyed this quite a bit!
Luckily, I was in the mood for a leisure read. I actually enjoyed this quite a bit!
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.
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 :)
October 6, 2024
I enjoyed the writing and world building but the story fell flat when it came to suspense. Good story for autumn, though.
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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
July 12, 2024
I Love a good southern gothic novel! the energy this book has is amazing and the descriptions of the land were so flush, it really feels like you were there.
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
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.
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.
dnf
June 25, 2024I have had the worst time with audiobooks lately. I just can not concentrate
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!
January 14, 2026
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.
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 !!
dnf
August 14, 2024Dnf 44% in. I’ve tried over 3 days to get into this book and I just can’t do it. It just feels like it’s going nowhere.
August 28, 2024
First, my thanks to Goodreads Giveaways, the authors, and publisher Sourcebooks Landmark for the copy of this book I was given.
As many other reviewers have noted, this book is very slow to get started. It drug for me in much of the first half, though there were times when I wanted to get back to it to see if anything was happening as yet.
The setting for this book is in Arkansas, on the western banks of the Mississippi river. It is a small southern town, and has a rich history as a center for the growing of pecans. The story centers around two twin sisters who are anywhere from 30 to 60 years of age, depending on where you are in the story. The main goal of these sisters is to keep their pecan orchard growing and thriving, and to save their small town. After the collapse of a bridge that brought the only road into town, everyone fears that the town will begin a decline. Strangely though, the town is still able to maintain a library, a school, and other services. Besides the twin sisters, there are two other main characters, and between these four characters there are two romances weaving through the story lines. Although I am not a fan of romance fiction, it was needed in this book to give more interest to this novel.
This is described as "magic realism", but to me it seemed to fit more in the paranormal category, with some horror mixed in. There are fires that fully inflame a building, only to immediately disappear, and the building to reconstitute its' self. There is a shape-shifter demon, who fills the role of an evil that attempts to engulf the town and characters.
I am giving this three stars because there is evident talent in the writing, at least part of the time, and as I noted earlier, I did feel engaged enough that I wanted to know what was going to happen.
As many other reviewers have noted, this book is very slow to get started. It drug for me in much of the first half, though there were times when I wanted to get back to it to see if anything was happening as yet.
The setting for this book is in Arkansas, on the western banks of the Mississippi river. It is a small southern town, and has a rich history as a center for the growing of pecans. The story centers around two twin sisters who are anywhere from 30 to 60 years of age, depending on where you are in the story. The main goal of these sisters is to keep their pecan orchard growing and thriving, and to save their small town. After the collapse of a bridge that brought the only road into town, everyone fears that the town will begin a decline. Strangely though, the town is still able to maintain a library, a school, and other services. Besides the twin sisters, there are two other main characters, and between these four characters there are two romances weaving through the story lines. Although I am not a fan of romance fiction, it was needed in this book to give more interest to this novel.
This is described as "magic realism", but to me it seemed to fit more in the paranormal category, with some horror mixed in. There are fires that fully inflame a building, only to immediately disappear, and the building to reconstitute its' self. There is a shape-shifter demon, who fills the role of an evil that attempts to engulf the town and characters.
I am giving this three stars because there is evident talent in the writing, at least part of the time, and as I noted earlier, I did feel engaged enough that I wanted to know what was going to happen.
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.
September 22, 2024
Thank you NetGalley for this eARC!
Do I know what just happened ?
No.
Do I think I still had a good time reading this ?
Yes.
The characters were lovable, the "hungry man" was creepy as hell, and overall it was a good fall/spookish read.
This had more twist and turns than a backroad highway. I wish I knew what creature/folklore this was exactly based on, but it was crazy to say the least. I feel like it is a good metaphoric fantasy to explain how some people in small towns feel trapped and or so set in their ways that they don't accept the world growing around them.
The aging world around us is ever consuming with it's need to conquer all small things.
The nit picky part of me was a little annoyed that nothing was really explained.
The Pecan children somehow aged incredibly slow, but only once they reached like 20-30? Also, WHY were the pecan trees that were abandoned producing CHILDREN?
Lil and Sasha are not Pecan children but somehow also don’t age even outside of the time loop area…. But also the gold pecans somehow made the town into a time loop?
But then the shapeshifter monster thing somehow burned down the time loop town?
If I think too hard about the details it feels very offf…. But
I enjoyed the story for what it was worth and chalked the lack of detail up to small town folklore but that was my biggest qualm with the story.
Do I know what just happened ?
No.
Do I think I still had a good time reading this ?
Yes.
The characters were lovable, the "hungry man" was creepy as hell, and overall it was a good fall/spookish read.
This had more twist and turns than a backroad highway. I wish I knew what creature/folklore this was exactly based on, but it was crazy to say the least. I feel like it is a good metaphoric fantasy to explain how some people in small towns feel trapped and or so set in their ways that they don't accept the world growing around them.
The aging world around us is ever consuming with it's need to conquer all small things.
The nit picky part of me was a little annoyed that nothing was really explained.
The Pecan children somehow aged incredibly slow, but only once they reached like 20-30? Also, WHY were the pecan trees that were abandoned producing CHILDREN?
Lil and Sasha are not Pecan children but somehow also don’t age even outside of the time loop area…. But also the gold pecans somehow made the town into a time loop?
But then the shapeshifter monster thing somehow burned down the time loop town?
If I think too hard about the details it feels very offf…. But
I enjoyed the story for what it was worth and chalked the lack of detail up to small town folklore but that was my biggest qualm with the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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.
July 17, 2024
Sisters Lil and Sasha work to upkeep their family pecan orchard in the dying town of Clearwater, Arkansas. As more and more families sell their orchards and move away, as kudzu vines threaten to consume the town, as children run wild, the sisters are determined to hold on to the past. When two important people from their younger years, Jason and Autumn, return to the small town, their monotonous days take a wild turn.
It's hard to describe the story more without giving away the twist. Like Quinn Connor's first book, Cicadas Sing of Summer Graves, The Pecan Children thrives in atmosphere. I knew nothing about pecans or kudzu or Arkansas, but Connor brings the world to life. The book is beautifully written. It is full of mystifying twists, yearning for both people and the land, magical realism, sapphic romance, and a touch of horror. A beautiful Southern Gothic.
It's hard to describe the story more without giving away the twist. Like Quinn Connor's first book, Cicadas Sing of Summer Graves, The Pecan Children thrives in atmosphere. I knew nothing about pecans or kudzu or Arkansas, but Connor brings the world to life. The book is beautifully written. It is full of mystifying twists, yearning for both people and the land, magical realism, sapphic romance, and a touch of horror. A beautiful Southern Gothic.
July 30, 2024
Thank you Netgalley and sourcebooks landmark for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.
The pecan children was my first book by the author duo. I didn't know there's a duo but came to know later as many people love their books.
Now for me, a setting that is dark and claustrophobic and melancholic, I'm definitely the one to grab it faster than you can say "sold". But this somehow did not work for me. It definitely is melancholic and there's this claustrophobic tone to the book that was done perfectly well but I somehow did not care for the story or the characters.
Now being said that, that doesn't make it a bad book, it was just not for me but might work for all those who like such books.
I wish I could enjoy this book more, but I will definitely read some more books by the author for sure.
The pecan children was my first book by the author duo. I didn't know there's a duo but came to know later as many people love their books.
Now for me, a setting that is dark and claustrophobic and melancholic, I'm definitely the one to grab it faster than you can say "sold". But this somehow did not work for me. It definitely is melancholic and there's this claustrophobic tone to the book that was done perfectly well but I somehow did not care for the story or the characters.
Now being said that, that doesn't make it a bad book, it was just not for me but might work for all those who like such books.
I wish I could enjoy this book more, but I will definitely read some more books by the author for sure.
September 25, 2024
This one really surprised me! Such a dreamy southern gothic. We follow the story of twin sister pecan farmers, mix in some folklore, timeless queer love, and spooky legends in their sleepy town and there’s a magical, beautiful, horrific story that is told.
I’ll be thinking of the pecan children for a long time. What a beautiful, eerie book. It’s shelved at my bookstore as literary fiction, my library as fantasy… and I think it could even count as a horror. It’s just wonderful.
I’ll be thinking of the pecan children for a long time. What a beautiful, eerie book. It’s shelved at my bookstore as literary fiction, my library as fantasy… and I think it could even count as a horror. It’s just wonderful.
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