Sugarcane Saint: The First Book of Ruth

by Christy Landers Tallamy

Born in 1912 beneath the shadow of the mystical Stone Mountain to a middle-class Georgia farm family, Ruth Shurlington is an unremarkable, though imaginative child who idolizes her father and is mesmerized by the lives of her four older sisters. Evangelical faith and southern tradition guide Ruth and her family through the uncertainties of changing times until the untimely death of their beloved patriarch causes their world to crumble.

In the aftermath of her father's death, Ruth navigates her servant-like role in a family divided between their failing rural farm and the encroaching urban landscape of nearby Atlanta. When Quillan Johnson, Ruth's childhood friend and the son of the local preacher proposes marriage, Ruth is certain her life is on the right path. The perfect circle of Biblical womanhood that she has revered in her sisters is on the verge of opening to her. But a chance encounter with Leonidas Brantley, a dangerously charming migrant worker ignites Ruth's darker curiosity. Through a series of tragic events, she is left unprotected- prey to the wolf that hunts her. On one fatal Sunday afternoon, she sets in motion a savage cycle of violence that prowls through four generations.

Set in the segregated American South and spanning fifty years of American history, the Book of Ruth trilogy begins with Sugar Cane Saint and lays out in brutal honesty how deeply our road is defined by the family to which we are born. As Ruth's story unravels in harrowing detail, a vivid comparison between a benign and abusive patriarchy reveals a startling thin line between the two. It is a story that explores how violence breeds further violence, leaving the next generation to navigate its painful legacy.

408 pages, Paperback

Published June 10, 2025

Reviews

[Rebekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This debut novel, “Sugarcane Saint” by Christy Landers Tallamy, insightfully tells the story of how Ruth, a seemingly well loved and nurtured child, finds herself vulnerable and on a dangerous course with a dangerous man.

In this first installment of “The Book of Ruth Trilogy”, Tallamy highlights the seemingly idyllic childhood of her main character, Ruth, with poetic descriptions of the dandelions and meandering streams of smalltown farm life. As the story builds, the calm pastoral pacing gives way and is contrasted with the bustle and noise of the city. Tallamy doesn’t pull any punches about the harsh realities and violence that punctuate Ruth’s life and contribute to an internal world that is complex and turbulent. The imagery woven throughout the story parallels Ruth’s journey from innocent girlhood to seduced victim.

Tallamy has created characters that are distinct, alive, and relatable. Though faced with similar circumstances and troubles, the many members of Ruth’s family grow and respond in their individuality, each following their own journey. I found myself wanting to scream at Dollie for not seeing her little sister’s struggles; cheer for Lola as she stands her ground in the face of patriarchy; and yell warnings to Ruth to stay away from that snake Leonidas.

In “Sugarcane Saint”, Christy Landers Tallamy examines the psychology of child development and the contributing factors that may lead someone to accept (or reject) abusive relationships. It can be easy to judge women in abusive relationships from the outside, not knowing or understanding what led them there. This story reveals that it is not as simple as choosing to walk away. The things that form us are subtle and insidious and once embedded in our psyche are extremely hard to extract.

“Sugarcane Saint” is a beautiful and brutal introduction to Ruth’s world. It glimpses behind the veil of appearances to what lurks beneath the surface, forming us, shaping us, waiting to trap us. I highly recommend this truth-telling read, and eagerly await the next installments.



**Content warning: ”Sugarcane Saint” contains explicit descriptions of domestic violence and sexual assault.
***Review of author provided ARC

[Kmc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sugarcane Saint: The First Book of Ruth completely pulled me in from the first few pages. It tells the story of Ruth Shurlington, a girl growing up in the rural South just outside Atlanta in the first few decades of the 20th century. The writing is vivid and lyrical that the reader can virtually see, smell, and feel the world Ruth lives in. The author, Tallamy, has a gift for bringing characters to life—every person who touches Ruth’s world feels real and, familiar.
But it’s not just the people. The setting—the rural South—is so richly drawn that it becomes a character in its own right. Atlanta and its rural outskirts change alongside Ruth, sometimes gently, sometimes painfully, as time moves forward. The writing is beautiful and at times, brutal —there’s a raw honesty to it that stays with you.
When I finished the last page, I wasn’t ready to let go. I’m already eager to dive into the next chapter of Ruth’s story. If you enjoy books that are atmospheric, character-driven and written with raw honesty, Sugarcane Saint will not disappoint.

[Tamarad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must Read: Engaging historical novel traces the history of family trauma in the south.

Sugarcane Saint is a forceful, eloquent, beautiful, and (sometimes) painful work of the author Christy Landers Tallamy who deftly uses storytelling to make sense of the generational trauma linking back to her grandmother Ruth. Piecing together careful family research and the history of rural Georgia in America starting in 1918 through 1932, the tale illuminates the lives of a farm family and in particular the women that care and tend and move forward the history of Tallamy’s family. There is grace here for the humanity of the characters–both their faults and their strengths are on display. The view is unwaveringly truthful - touching on the realities of religion in the south at the time, the lingering smolders of the Civil War, the KKK, and the patriarchy of the time and place.

The book's voices are full, well-rounded, and lively. The story is more than engaging–I found myself thinking of the characters and their very real past lives any time I wasn’t reading the text. I see spider web links and parallels to portions of my own family history and I know I will be contemplating this novel for a long time. It traces questions I have asked of myself–what motivated ‘x’ relative? How do three sisters (in my case) grow up in the same home with most of the same experiences and approach the world now from vastly different viewpoints? How are core beliefs forged and lost? Tallamy captures all of these themes and more. Sugarcane Saint is the first in a trilogy and I cannot wait to reach the rest.

You need to read this novel; you may find some healing powers of your own.

[Lailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sugar Cane Saint is a powerful and unsettling story about how family, faith, and violence shape a life long before a person understands the cost. Ruth Shurlington’s journey - from an imaginative farm girl to a woman caught between devotion and desire - is written with honesty and restraint. Set in the segregated American South, the novel shows how trauma doesn’t end with one generation but passes quietly to the next. This is not an easy read, but it is a meaningful one, especially for readers who appreciate emotional depth and historical realism.

[Kelley Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

How can a debut novel author write a book that can be used to teach others how to write? Tallamy's adjectives are creative, plentiful and dead-on. Each sentence is a gem. Thank you for explaining to those of us who were fortunate enough not to grow up in a family ravaged by sexual violence how evil can enter a family so quickly and insidiously. Your book has made me more compassionate and more motivated to raise women with quality education, strong opinions and loud voices.

[Reg Solomon · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Wow! It's been a long time since I've read a book this well-written. I would stop reading & pause to appreciate the vivid imagery or eloquent details. The compelling characters make this novel genuinely hard to put down. While the real-life tragedies explored within it can be difficult to read, I'm already looking forward for book #2.

[Kathi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!

Beautifully crafted. I enjoyed every word and could not put it down. Really a triumph Christy. I'm in awe. Congratulations.

[sabina · Rating 5 out of 5]

great debut novel, such a unique story with seamless writing that kept me intrigued all throughout the book

[Haykay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional. Interesting