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The Cicada Tree
The summer of 1956, a brood of cicadas descends upon Providence Georgia, a natural event with supernatural repercussions, unhinging the life of Analeise Newell, an eleven-year-old piano prodigy. Amidst this emergence, dark obsessions are stirred, uncanny gifts provoked, and secrets unearthed.
During a visit to Mistletoe, a plantation owned by the wealthy Mayfield family, Analeise encounters Cordelia Mayfield and her daughter Marlissa, both of whom possess an otherworldly beauty. A whisper, a sense of déjà vu, and an act of violence perpetrated during this visit by Mrs. Mayfield all converge to kindle Analeise’s fascination with the Mayfields.
Analeise’s burgeoning obsession with the Mayfield family overshadows her own seemingly, ordinary life, culminating in dangerous games and manipulation, setting off a chain of cataclysmic events with life-altering consequences—all of it unfolding to the maddening whir of a cicada song.
During a visit to Mistletoe, a plantation owned by the wealthy Mayfield family, Analeise encounters Cordelia Mayfield and her daughter Marlissa, both of whom possess an otherworldly beauty. A whisper, a sense of déjà vu, and an act of violence perpetrated during this visit by Mrs. Mayfield all converge to kindle Analeise’s fascination with the Mayfields.
Analeise’s burgeoning obsession with the Mayfield family overshadows her own seemingly, ordinary life, culminating in dangerous games and manipulation, setting off a chain of cataclysmic events with life-altering consequences—all of it unfolding to the maddening whir of a cicada song.
334 pages, Paperback
First published January 20, 2022
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1934 people want to read
About the author
Robert Gwaltney
4 books168 followersRobert Gwaltney, award winning author of southern fiction, is a graduate of Florida State University. He resides in Atlanta Georgia with his partner, where he is an active member of the Atlanta literary community. By day, he serves as Vice President of Easter Seals North Georgia, Inc., Children Services, a non-profit supporting children with disabilities and other special needs. Robert’s work has appeared in such publications as The Signal Mountain Review and The Dead Mule School of Southern Literature. Robert also serves as Prose Editor for The Blue Mountain Review. His debut novel, The Cicada Tree, won the Somerset Award for literary fiction.
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November 11, 2022I possess a fond affection for this novel. I feel as if I know the author.
July 28, 2022
This was a lovely and dark book. It intertwined the beauty of the rural south with the majesty of the natural world. It reminded me of a cross of To Kill a Mockingbird, The Bluest Eye, and 60's/70's horror creature flicks. So good!
Robert has a way of winding language into description without dragging down the plot. The scene building was a character in itself! I highly recommend this book and although I figured out some of the plot twists early on it didn't detract from the story overall. I would love to see a sequel!
Robert has a way of winding language into description without dragging down the plot. The scene building was a character in itself! I highly recommend this book and although I figured out some of the plot twists early on it didn't detract from the story overall. I would love to see a sequel!
June 25, 2022
*Quasi spoilers*
This book was amazing, absorbing, atmospheric, an impressive debut. Was planning on 5 stars, but just didn't like the resolution to one of the mysteries. It makes sense, I guess, for everything that was set in motion. But truly nauseating.
While I take some exception to the reason for the category (tearing down the South or Southerners), I can say this was a true Southern Gothic style novel in the most classic sense. Old school mysteries, a little bit of magic, and a moody setting that is a character in itself. And a somewhat opened-ended conclusion.
Truly impressive. Well done.
This book was amazing, absorbing, atmospheric, an impressive debut. Was planning on 5 stars, but just didn't like the resolution to one of the mysteries. It makes sense, I guess, for everything that was set in motion. But truly nauseating.
While I take some exception to the reason for the category (tearing down the South or Southerners), I can say this was a true Southern Gothic style novel in the most classic sense. Old school mysteries, a little bit of magic, and a moody setting that is a character in itself. And a somewhat opened-ended conclusion.
Truly impressive. Well done.
January 20, 2024
This beautifully written novel about two girls growing up in 1950s Georgia is full of magic, friendship, family, and dysfunction. The villains are the Mayfields—a rich, beguiling clan with a mean streak as long as the Chattahoochee River. Our heroines, Analeise and Etta Mae, are musically gifted. But in a world that favors the wealthy from the right side of the tracks, these girls must fight for every shred of happiness.
May 10, 2022
Thanks to @getredPR for providing my review copy!
A new Southern gothic novel from author Robert Gwaltney brings a new heroine full of Southern spunk and childlike innocence that will leave readers reminiscing of young Scout Finch (“To Kill a Mockingbird") or Kya Clarke (“Where the Crawdads Sing”).
Analeise Newell is eleven years old and a piano prodigy, living with her parents with her only friend being young Etta Mae, the black daughter of Analeise’s maid, Miss Wessie, in the rural community of Providence, Georgia. When the daughter of the extraordinarily wealthy Mayfield family, Marlissa, is forced to attend Analeise’s school due to a fire at her own, every one of Analeise’s friends wants to become the focus of Marlissa’s attention. Analeise sees an upcoming party at the Mayfield estate as a chance to befriend the new and curiousity-inducing young girl, which would make Analeise the envy of her peers. But the Mayfield’s have secrets, one in particular that could change Analeise’s life entirely, but once the secret is revealed Analeise finds herself even more entwined in the Mayfield’s darkly glamorous existence.
“The Cicada Tree” is a debut novel, and it immediately charmed me. I loved young Analeise and her compatriot, Etta Mae, as she comes of age in a small Southern town, falling under the spell of the rapturous Mayfield clan. Not since “Where the Crawdads Sing” have I found a young protagonist so sassy and delightful. Gwaltney’s novel has Southern charm and magic, as well as deeply disturbing family secrets, and I was reluctant to put the story down.
The novel is ripe with adjectives, Gwaltney describing each and every characteristic of the hot summer town with such beauty I couldn’t help but become immersed. When the town becomes overrun with cicadas, and the superstitious townspeople immediately assume impending doom, Gwaltney provides drama, intrigue and emotional staying power, pulling me through to the very last page.
Gwaltney has had previous works in other publications, which explains why his writing style is so finely crafted and well-honed, but it is still impressive that this is his very first novel. “The Cicada Tree” is well written, creative and bittersweet. It is obvious that Gwaltney has found his niche in creative writing, and I really hope he sticks with it. I have no doubt we will be seeing more from him in the future, and I cannot wait to devour his next book.
A new Southern gothic novel from author Robert Gwaltney brings a new heroine full of Southern spunk and childlike innocence that will leave readers reminiscing of young Scout Finch (“To Kill a Mockingbird") or Kya Clarke (“Where the Crawdads Sing”).
Analeise Newell is eleven years old and a piano prodigy, living with her parents with her only friend being young Etta Mae, the black daughter of Analeise’s maid, Miss Wessie, in the rural community of Providence, Georgia. When the daughter of the extraordinarily wealthy Mayfield family, Marlissa, is forced to attend Analeise’s school due to a fire at her own, every one of Analeise’s friends wants to become the focus of Marlissa’s attention. Analeise sees an upcoming party at the Mayfield estate as a chance to befriend the new and curiousity-inducing young girl, which would make Analeise the envy of her peers. But the Mayfield’s have secrets, one in particular that could change Analeise’s life entirely, but once the secret is revealed Analeise finds herself even more entwined in the Mayfield’s darkly glamorous existence.
“The Cicada Tree” is a debut novel, and it immediately charmed me. I loved young Analeise and her compatriot, Etta Mae, as she comes of age in a small Southern town, falling under the spell of the rapturous Mayfield clan. Not since “Where the Crawdads Sing” have I found a young protagonist so sassy and delightful. Gwaltney’s novel has Southern charm and magic, as well as deeply disturbing family secrets, and I was reluctant to put the story down.
The novel is ripe with adjectives, Gwaltney describing each and every characteristic of the hot summer town with such beauty I couldn’t help but become immersed. When the town becomes overrun with cicadas, and the superstitious townspeople immediately assume impending doom, Gwaltney provides drama, intrigue and emotional staying power, pulling me through to the very last page.
Gwaltney has had previous works in other publications, which explains why his writing style is so finely crafted and well-honed, but it is still impressive that this is his very first novel. “The Cicada Tree” is well written, creative and bittersweet. It is obvious that Gwaltney has found his niche in creative writing, and I really hope he sticks with it. I have no doubt we will be seeing more from him in the future, and I cannot wait to devour his next book.
January 29, 2022
Wow! I am in total awe of The Cicada Tree and the masterful way Robert Gwaltney weaves an astounding tale of intrigue, suspense, and rapture. He creates such a spinning cyclone of enchantment that you are left in awe. The descriptions are so rich and deep you can feel the vibrations of the thunder rumbling in your feet, hear the all-encompassing sounds of the cicadas, and of course taste the music as it floats by in the summer air. The characters all have a layered backstory, that you must uncover. Little by little until you can barely take it anymore. Each having a major impact on the outcome of the story.
It is the summer of 1956, in Georgia. Analeise and her friend Etta Mae are enjoying a hot, stormy summer in their backyard. Making cicada crowns, singing, and playing the piano. Etta Mae has the voice of an angle and Analeise is a gifted piano player, who can taste and see the music. Even though their lives are shrouded in loss, they are able to push through with their gifts. Analeise stumbles across many conversations that she is not supposed to hear, she is trying to make sense of it all. All these shreds of stories knocking around inside of her head, becoming louder and louder, reaching a fevered pitch. Leaves her wondering what is true and what has been a lie.
You need to read this book so you too can be put under Gwaltney's spell. This story keeps growing and growing, until it reaches a crescendo, and the truth finally comes to light. I could read this book over just for the details and descriptions, it is gorgeously written, and you need to experience it. Thank you to Robert Gwaltney, Moonshine Cove Publishing, and Get Red PR for allowing me to read this astounding coming of age story.
It is the summer of 1956, in Georgia. Analeise and her friend Etta Mae are enjoying a hot, stormy summer in their backyard. Making cicada crowns, singing, and playing the piano. Etta Mae has the voice of an angle and Analeise is a gifted piano player, who can taste and see the music. Even though their lives are shrouded in loss, they are able to push through with their gifts. Analeise stumbles across many conversations that she is not supposed to hear, she is trying to make sense of it all. All these shreds of stories knocking around inside of her head, becoming louder and louder, reaching a fevered pitch. Leaves her wondering what is true and what has been a lie.
You need to read this book so you too can be put under Gwaltney's spell. This story keeps growing and growing, until it reaches a crescendo, and the truth finally comes to light. I could read this book over just for the details and descriptions, it is gorgeously written, and you need to experience it. Thank you to Robert Gwaltney, Moonshine Cove Publishing, and Get Red PR for allowing me to read this astounding coming of age story.
January 10, 2022
Consuming and corrosive, this story sinks into your pores and makes you dread all good things. I was disgusted and delighted in equal measure. The twisted roots of the Mayfield family tree are there simply to trip you up, leave you falling and disoriented. I reveled in it.
The writing is masterful and simple in turns. Characters woven in letters and flushed out with aching clarity. The synesthesia-like descriptions are immersive, bringing life to each page. I loved and hated the trepidation they invoked.
Excellent debut work. Enrapturing.
Thank you to Get Red PR, the author and publisher for my free copy. These opinions are my own.
The writing is masterful and simple in turns. Characters woven in letters and flushed out with aching clarity. The synesthesia-like descriptions are immersive, bringing life to each page. I loved and hated the trepidation they invoked.
Excellent debut work. Enrapturing.
Thank you to Get Red PR, the author and publisher for my free copy. These opinions are my own.
August 10, 2022
Five cicada rattling stars! ✨✨✨✨✨
This uniquely crafted coming-of-age story is a Southern gothic tale loaded with creative turns of phrase, clever and lovely analogies, and a narrative that compelled this reader to stay up later than usual. (and trust me, that’s saying something!)
I love Southern fiction, and to add a little spice to my usual vein of reading, Southern gothic brings that extra added oomph to my favorite genre. Think stories like The Summer That Melted Everything by Tiffany McDaniel, The Wilds by Julia Elliott, Gradle Bird by J.C. Sasser, or Treeborne by Caleb Johnson, all of which I have read and loved.
Gwaltney's story is filled with artistry, in the writing and the incredible originality of his ideas. Writers are honed to use the senses to deepen and enhance their writings. Imagine a young girl, Analeise Newell, the main character, who can play the piano like a virtuoso, and can taste music, whether from her playing or from songs sung by her young friend, Etta Mae. And that taste is described to the reader, which perfectly matches the moment in a scene. What is that? That is ingenious.
Paired with Etta Mae, a black girl who is Analeise's best friend, and who can sing as well as Analeise plays, they are a fierce duo, although Etta Mae is sweet, loving, and thoughtful, while Analeise can be those things, along with a bit of vinegar and a dash of hot pepper sauce.
Then, bring in a "mean girl" by the name of Marlissa Mayfield, from a highly successful, yet dark and twisted family (actually, Marlissa and her mother are worse than mean) and then let Robert Gwaltney start to compound these relationships, little nuances of interactions that are loaded with insinuation from the very first encounter.
There are secrets lurking, not unlike the cicadas sleeping underground, awaiting release into the upper world, where humans believe they rule, where trickery and duplicity upset a balance which has been carefully maintained and hidden in the past.
Analeise is curious, obsessed with the Mayfields, and becomes relentless in her quest to understand what it is about "that Mayfield shine," that draws her like a moth to light, like an alcoholic to drink, like a fly to a carcass. Gwaltney invites conflict with a party at the Mayfield's glorious home where manipulation and deceit create even more confusion for Analeise. Gwaltney sets little traps of intrigue, a slow build-up of tension that leave characters in despair. The story begins to unravel like a little spool of thread rolled across the floor until nothing is left, and dark truths are resurrected, just like the plague of cicadas.
A must read for those who love Southern fiction, and add an A+++ for those who love their stories with authentic and unusual twists!
This uniquely crafted coming-of-age story is a Southern gothic tale loaded with creative turns of phrase, clever and lovely analogies, and a narrative that compelled this reader to stay up later than usual. (and trust me, that’s saying something!)
I love Southern fiction, and to add a little spice to my usual vein of reading, Southern gothic brings that extra added oomph to my favorite genre. Think stories like The Summer That Melted Everything by Tiffany McDaniel, The Wilds by Julia Elliott, Gradle Bird by J.C. Sasser, or Treeborne by Caleb Johnson, all of which I have read and loved.
Gwaltney's story is filled with artistry, in the writing and the incredible originality of his ideas. Writers are honed to use the senses to deepen and enhance their writings. Imagine a young girl, Analeise Newell, the main character, who can play the piano like a virtuoso, and can taste music, whether from her playing or from songs sung by her young friend, Etta Mae. And that taste is described to the reader, which perfectly matches the moment in a scene. What is that? That is ingenious.
Paired with Etta Mae, a black girl who is Analeise's best friend, and who can sing as well as Analeise plays, they are a fierce duo, although Etta Mae is sweet, loving, and thoughtful, while Analeise can be those things, along with a bit of vinegar and a dash of hot pepper sauce.
Then, bring in a "mean girl" by the name of Marlissa Mayfield, from a highly successful, yet dark and twisted family (actually, Marlissa and her mother are worse than mean) and then let Robert Gwaltney start to compound these relationships, little nuances of interactions that are loaded with insinuation from the very first encounter.
There are secrets lurking, not unlike the cicadas sleeping underground, awaiting release into the upper world, where humans believe they rule, where trickery and duplicity upset a balance which has been carefully maintained and hidden in the past.
Analeise is curious, obsessed with the Mayfields, and becomes relentless in her quest to understand what it is about "that Mayfield shine," that draws her like a moth to light, like an alcoholic to drink, like a fly to a carcass. Gwaltney invites conflict with a party at the Mayfield's glorious home where manipulation and deceit create even more confusion for Analeise. Gwaltney sets little traps of intrigue, a slow build-up of tension that leave characters in despair. The story begins to unravel like a little spool of thread rolled across the floor until nothing is left, and dark truths are resurrected, just like the plague of cicadas.
A must read for those who love Southern fiction, and add an A+++ for those who love their stories with authentic and unusual twists!
March 21, 2024
The author transports us to the summer of 1956, where cicadas have descended upon the segregated town of Providence, Georgia. Here we meet Analeise Newell, an eleven-year-old piano prodigy. She spends her days playing with the help’s daughter, Etta Mae. Her mother works at the factory and her Dad drinks their earnings. Analeise hints it wasn’t always this way, and that something happened.
The girls are likable, and the author’s vivid prose brought the world to life. I could feel the humid nights, hear the cicadas and the wind blow. When Analeise travels to Mistletoe, a plantation owned by the wealthy Mayfield family with her momma, she encounters Cordelia Mayfield and her daughter Marlissa. The two possess an unworldly beauty, and Analeise is drawn to them and the song being played on the piano. Despite an unsettling scene that hints of darkness and secrets, that visit opens up a fascination in young Analeise.
The tale that unfolds held me spellbound as secrets are revealed, and tragic events occur that were unexpected and riveting. There is a tinge of horror wrapped in the magical realism and tea as sweet as honey wrapped in the southern charm.
The characters are vividly painted and well developed. These are characters you’ll remember. Miss Wessie, the take-no-sass caretaker of the Newell family, was the glue that held them together. While Analeise could be prickly, you couldn’t help but feel for the girl.
From playground politics to the ways of southern men, Gwaltney captured the south. He highlights the segregation and economic disparity of this small-town. The pacing built to a crescendo that made me unable to stop listening until the very end. The magical realism had a dark undertone that enhanced this southern gothic tale.
Allyson Johnson’s narration was like honey, and the writing lent beautifully to the audio format. I highly recommend listening.
The Cicada Tree is Robert Gwaltney debut novel and I cannot wait to see what he writes next. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
The girls are likable, and the author’s vivid prose brought the world to life. I could feel the humid nights, hear the cicadas and the wind blow. When Analeise travels to Mistletoe, a plantation owned by the wealthy Mayfield family with her momma, she encounters Cordelia Mayfield and her daughter Marlissa. The two possess an unworldly beauty, and Analeise is drawn to them and the song being played on the piano. Despite an unsettling scene that hints of darkness and secrets, that visit opens up a fascination in young Analeise.
The tale that unfolds held me spellbound as secrets are revealed, and tragic events occur that were unexpected and riveting. There is a tinge of horror wrapped in the magical realism and tea as sweet as honey wrapped in the southern charm.
The characters are vividly painted and well developed. These are characters you’ll remember. Miss Wessie, the take-no-sass caretaker of the Newell family, was the glue that held them together. While Analeise could be prickly, you couldn’t help but feel for the girl.
From playground politics to the ways of southern men, Gwaltney captured the south. He highlights the segregation and economic disparity of this small-town. The pacing built to a crescendo that made me unable to stop listening until the very end. The magical realism had a dark undertone that enhanced this southern gothic tale.
Allyson Johnson’s narration was like honey, and the writing lent beautifully to the audio format. I highly recommend listening.
The Cicada Tree is Robert Gwaltney debut novel and I cannot wait to see what he writes next. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
March 20, 2022
Southern Gothic literature is a Southern American writing style that injects both fantasy and the grotesque into an otherwise realistic story. Harper Lee, Truman Capote, and Tennessee William excelled at the genre. Add to that list of elites Robert Gwaltney, author of “The Cicada Tree.”
The prose depicting everyday life in slow, small-town 1956 Providence, Georgia, will lull you with its music and poetry, like the sugary taste of cotton candy on the tongue. But beware: there are secrets here, ready to burst through, like the seventeen-year locusts that rise from the ground to bedevil the whole town.
"A secret's worth depends on the people from whom it must be kept." The words of Carlos Ruiz Zafón in "The Shadow of the Wind" ring true here. Eleven-year-old main character Analeise longs to know secrets of others, secrets among the rich and poor and among the black and the white, all while she holds tight to some of her own, one of which is her own predilection towards what she considers evil.
Step into her world and you will be caught up unawares, not only by secrets revealed, but by Robert Gwaltney’s metaphors, unusual, perfect, and delicious.
The prose depicting everyday life in slow, small-town 1956 Providence, Georgia, will lull you with its music and poetry, like the sugary taste of cotton candy on the tongue. But beware: there are secrets here, ready to burst through, like the seventeen-year locusts that rise from the ground to bedevil the whole town.
"A secret's worth depends on the people from whom it must be kept." The words of Carlos Ruiz Zafón in "The Shadow of the Wind" ring true here. Eleven-year-old main character Analeise longs to know secrets of others, secrets among the rich and poor and among the black and the white, all while she holds tight to some of her own, one of which is her own predilection towards what she considers evil.
Step into her world and you will be caught up unawares, not only by secrets revealed, but by Robert Gwaltney’s metaphors, unusual, perfect, and delicious.
February 22, 2022
This started slow for me and I wasn't enjoying the writing, I almost DNF'd the book. I'm glad I kept going though as it turned a point in which I was totally gripped and wanting to know how things turned out. The writing seemed to shift as well, or at least it felt much better and definitely gave me vibes of another time. Anyone who has heard cicadas knows the sound and it could be felt while reading this book, a definite character in their own right. The ending was a bit dramatic but I could understand how it came about. Overall, a great debut and an author I will check out again in the future.
Thank you to Netgalley and Moonshine Cove Publishing for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Thank you to Netgalley and Moonshine Cove Publishing for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
February 14, 2022
I try not to compare current authors (especially those making their literary debut) to the classic masters of letters. So, with Mr. Gwaltney's opening effort I scanned the index of contemporary voices in hopes of finding a decent double. I did not succeed.
And my lack of success is due in whole to Mr. Gwaltney's astounding achievement.
So rarely are writers this gifted in all phases of their discipline-- debut or otherwise. And yet, Mr. Gwaltney shows the ability to dive deep into character (through dialogue, description, inner monologue, and letters, etc.), while also crafting a plot that saunters but never stalls. The setting is southern and gothic, in that order. And Mr. Gwaltney wields the cicadas like a razor-sharp storytelling blade, working to dig at the timeless themes of the novel, while the characters in the foreground play out the dark narrative in a dazzling and dramatic fashion.
As for his literary equivalent-- some midcareer mimeo scribe with enough clout to have the comparison be considered praise? I knew after the opening few chapters there would be none.
Mr. Gwaltney's legacy is bound for the company of greater names; others who showed a true and comprehensive grasp of the southern novel as it exists in Faulknerian tradition: William Gay. Flannery O'Connor. Larry Brown. Robert Gwaltney.
And my lack of success is due in whole to Mr. Gwaltney's astounding achievement.
So rarely are writers this gifted in all phases of their discipline-- debut or otherwise. And yet, Mr. Gwaltney shows the ability to dive deep into character (through dialogue, description, inner monologue, and letters, etc.), while also crafting a plot that saunters but never stalls. The setting is southern and gothic, in that order. And Mr. Gwaltney wields the cicadas like a razor-sharp storytelling blade, working to dig at the timeless themes of the novel, while the characters in the foreground play out the dark narrative in a dazzling and dramatic fashion.
As for his literary equivalent-- some midcareer mimeo scribe with enough clout to have the comparison be considered praise? I knew after the opening few chapters there would be none.
Mr. Gwaltney's legacy is bound for the company of greater names; others who showed a true and comprehensive grasp of the southern novel as it exists in Faulknerian tradition: William Gay. Flannery O'Connor. Larry Brown. Robert Gwaltney.
October 23, 2021
The Cicada Tree starts off like a Carson McCullers or Harper Lee novel, then gets darker like a Flannery O'Connor novel, then goes full-blown supernatural horror like an Andy Davidson novel (or like The Vines by Christopher Rice). Robert Gwaltney uses Southern idioms and dialects well, without ever resorting to stereotypes or overly-florid dialogue. As a child of the American South I found his characters to be thoroughly believable, and I was captivated by the storyline. The novel ends with a few loose ends, so I'm hoping there's a sequel at some point. This is an amazing debut novel, and I look forward to reading more by Robert Gwaltney.
February 4, 2022
Robert Gwaltney is the new author to put on your list of favorites. The Cicada Tree is one of those books you'll be thinking about long after you read the last page. His writing is beautiful, his characters are real, and his story will pull you in and hold your attention. I haven't read anything like this in a long time and I can't wait for his next novel. Until then, I'll enjoy reading The Cicada Tree a second time. It's that good.
April 15, 2022
An immersive gothic southern tale painted with rich language and hints of the supernatural.
In the summer of 1956, the cicadas emerge from there long slumber in Providence, Georgia, and the secrets that they kept buried alongside them threaten to upend the whole town. The book centers around the friendship of young girls. But it’s so much more than that. Obsession. Hatred. Evil. Lies. Oh the lies!
This is a story that makes you cringe and while fully captivating. It’s dark and sinister. Gothic at its best. And the only thing better than the gothic vibes are the southern ones.
Gwaltney’s writing has a way of drawing you in to small town life in cinematic detail… from the political and societal expectations to the aromas and beauty of the landscape. The dichotomy between the beauty and the sinister is executed with such precision, you sometimes have to question to which category a scene fits.
This debut dazzles with its dark and dramatic nature. As you read, you’ll wonder… is it the cicadas or Gwaltney himself that has me under this spell?
Many thanks to @robertgwaltneyjr and @getredpr for this #gifted copy.
In the summer of 1956, the cicadas emerge from there long slumber in Providence, Georgia, and the secrets that they kept buried alongside them threaten to upend the whole town. The book centers around the friendship of young girls. But it’s so much more than that. Obsession. Hatred. Evil. Lies. Oh the lies!
This is a story that makes you cringe and while fully captivating. It’s dark and sinister. Gothic at its best. And the only thing better than the gothic vibes are the southern ones.
Gwaltney’s writing has a way of drawing you in to small town life in cinematic detail… from the political and societal expectations to the aromas and beauty of the landscape. The dichotomy between the beauty and the sinister is executed with such precision, you sometimes have to question to which category a scene fits.
This debut dazzles with its dark and dramatic nature. As you read, you’ll wonder… is it the cicadas or Gwaltney himself that has me under this spell?
Many thanks to @robertgwaltneyjr and @getredpr for this #gifted copy.
September 10, 2022
"I don't know if there is any one thing that did it. She straightened her back, placing both hands on her hips. Most times it take two to squeeze out all the goodness." Robert Gwaltney, The Cicada Tree
It takes two to make a relationship work, and it is likely the result of two in the end as well. This beautiful story of love, loss, friendship, class, race, hot Southern summer nights read like a feature film. So beautifully described, I could feel myself within the story. With hints of Crawdads and the The Girls in Stilt Houses, this story is set in the summer heat of the south with all the racism and class lines of the 1950's. Grace Newell works hard to raise her daughter Analeise with generosity and good manners. Analeise's best friend is Etta May whose voice is as sweet as pie and the granddaughter of Miss Wessie. Their summer is burdened by an amazing amount of cicadas - with their overwhelming hum that brings an energy of the supernatural to Providence, Georgia.
From this story rises loyalty, love and beautiful songs of the piano and a surprise operatic voice. This story is not to be missed!
It takes two to make a relationship work, and it is likely the result of two in the end as well. This beautiful story of love, loss, friendship, class, race, hot Southern summer nights read like a feature film. So beautifully described, I could feel myself within the story. With hints of Crawdads and the The Girls in Stilt Houses, this story is set in the summer heat of the south with all the racism and class lines of the 1950's. Grace Newell works hard to raise her daughter Analeise with generosity and good manners. Analeise's best friend is Etta May whose voice is as sweet as pie and the granddaughter of Miss Wessie. Their summer is burdened by an amazing amount of cicadas - with their overwhelming hum that brings an energy of the supernatural to Providence, Georgia.
From this story rises loyalty, love and beautiful songs of the piano and a surprise operatic voice. This story is not to be missed!
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December 20, 2021A magnificent southern gothic enthralling tale - Analise- 11 but so much older - has the gift of tasting music - her friend Etta Mae is a singer - enemies abound - the fancy Mayfield family - cicadas descending - fire -
Oh this book is music and will pull at your heart strings - dramatic - beautiful - stunning prose
Oh this book is music and will pull at your heart strings - dramatic - beautiful - stunning prose
March 7, 2022
How to do you write a review for a book where the author is more than an author but a painter of words at the same time?
I have read tons of books but not very many leave me where I can catch myself gripping my own throat, itching and wanting to crawl out of my own skin to get away or enchanted by a voice I can't hear but can only imagine how angelic it sounds.
Robert's descriptions remind me of when you go to Universal Studios and get to sit and watch a show and they have the seats vibrate at certain times or spray mists in your face just at the right moment. That is how this author makes his words work in The Cicada Tree.
I also love how it made me remember a special moment with my Grandma how she use to make me Hot Totties-whiskey with a splash of honey and lemon. Her cure all when I wasn't feeling well.
Reading this book, I just can't believe it's his first novel. That his words have not struck pen to paper for us all to read before. I can not wait to see what Robert writes next. He is sure to be an author I will be following. Analeise belongs now not on paper but on the big screen...she belongs in the movies, yet now the question is who would be good enough to play not only Analeise but Etta Mae?
I have read tons of books but not very many leave me where I can catch myself gripping my own throat, itching and wanting to crawl out of my own skin to get away or enchanted by a voice I can't hear but can only imagine how angelic it sounds.
Robert's descriptions remind me of when you go to Universal Studios and get to sit and watch a show and they have the seats vibrate at certain times or spray mists in your face just at the right moment. That is how this author makes his words work in The Cicada Tree.
I also love how it made me remember a special moment with my Grandma how she use to make me Hot Totties-whiskey with a splash of honey and lemon. Her cure all when I wasn't feeling well.
Reading this book, I just can't believe it's his first novel. That his words have not struck pen to paper for us all to read before. I can not wait to see what Robert writes next. He is sure to be an author I will be following. Analeise belongs now not on paper but on the big screen...she belongs in the movies, yet now the question is who would be good enough to play not only Analeise but Etta Mae?
June 6, 2022
It's 1956 in the sultry heat of a Georgia summer. The Cicada's have unearthed in massive numbers and their maddening song fills the air. For two young girls, it's a magical, carefree summer of singing, dancing and fairy wishes, until they become enchanted by the beauty of the wealthiest family in town. As in most enchantments, there is a dark undercurrent of secrets, madness and evil. Beauty is as beauty does should have been fair warning to the girls, but they did not heed it. Some things are meant to burn!
Robert Gwaltney has created a moody, haunting Southern Gothic novel with an ethereal quality that had me completely immersed in the characters and their stories. I highly recommend it and give it four and a half stars.
Robert Gwaltney has created a moody, haunting Southern Gothic novel with an ethereal quality that had me completely immersed in the characters and their stories. I highly recommend it and give it four and a half stars.
February 18, 2022
A southern gothic tale set in 1950's Georgia. A young Analeise is a gifted piano prodigy that can taste the music while her best friend Etta Mae has the voice of an angel. Analeise becomes obsessed with the wealthy Mayfield family while the cicadas bring along their own magic. A unique, orginal and very creative story. The plot builds with suspense that pulsates making this a dark, delicious and magical treat you just can't put down. Gwaltney is a writer to watch who made a grand entrance with one. A voice so feverish and poetic I'm pretty sure I'm spelled by it. Stunning debut!
Dawnny Ruby
Novels N Latte
Hudson Valley NY
Dawnny Ruby
Novels N Latte
Hudson Valley NY
January 23, 2022
What a beautifully written story. Southern gothic, lyrical, poetic prose that makes it impossible to put down. I've never read a book like this so I have nothing to compare it to. We follow Analeise, an 11 year old piano prodigy and her best friend, Etta Mae, an angelic singer, as they start figuring out the world they live in. A coming of age story that gets darker and more mysterious the farther in you get.
February 22, 2022
Reminiscent, in style, to the writings of Reynolds Price, The Cicada Tree is a memorable coming of age story, set in the 1950’s Deep South. Debut author Robert Gwaltney gives us characters steeped in naïveté, juxtaposed with continuous, underlying currents of darkness.
Pour yourself a sweet tea, head out to the sleeping porch and settle in. Let the buzz of the cicadas transport you to 1956 Providence, Georgia. It’s a journey you’ll never forget.
Pour yourself a sweet tea, head out to the sleeping porch and settle in. Let the buzz of the cicadas transport you to 1956 Providence, Georgia. It’s a journey you’ll never forget.
February 28, 2022
Gwaltney writes page turning suspense with a wealth of beautiful lines, begging to be slowly reread. THE CICADA TREE is full of memorable characters whose stories and secrets refuse to be forgotten. What a pleasure to spend time in Providence, dodging bugs, fires, and storms, while unraveling truth alongside Analeise.
April 10, 2023
I love a good southern gothic novel and this one sure fit the bill. Dark and atmospheric, I could not believe this was a debut. The story intrigued me from the beginning and held my attention all the way through the end. Very well done and I recommend this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and Get Red PR for the digital and free copies to review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Get Red PR for the digital and free copies to review.
February 13, 2022
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It’s been a while since I read a gripping gothic tale, and while “The Cicada Tree” is not your traditional gothic tale, it is simply mesmerizing.
How do I even begin to describe this book? When you start reading this story, you think it will just be a historical drama. But the author beautifully adds suspense, drama, and thrills and turns this into a spell-binding gothic tale. Add to that, and we also have mystical elements like nymphs and fairies to add to the magic.
The characters are dynamic, and I enjoyed ANaleise and Etta Mae in the lead. The author adds layers, like Analeise’s bond with her mother, her hatred towards her father, and her obsession with the Mayfields. For me, the story took off wonderfully when we met Cordelia, Marlissa, Virginia, and the others. Analeise’s emotions are raw, and I was surprised how I enjoyed her and how she sometimes scared me with her impulsive nature and wanted some people to die. Some notable moments are when she pushes Etta Mae or goes through the first day of school of being the “Bug Girl.”
The author also adds a sense of foreboding and suspense, mainly when she hears her mother’s dream fire song or witnesses the fire incident. Some shocking moments will make your jaw drop and contrast with beautiful moments that make you feel like reading a rich tale. I truly enjoyed the author’s style of writing. I had no idea where the story would go because this book was unlike anything I had ever read.
Overall, “The Cicada Tree” has a little of everything and is one of the best books I read this year.
November 3, 2022
A magical book growing up in the south in a small town in a unusual arrangement. Two young girls, both musically inclined are innocent and free, running around in bare feet, eavesdropping when adults talk, you know what I mean. We’ve all done it. And we also are aware that there is something off, but too young to figure things out.
There is something going on with Mom and Dad but what’s wrong?
Oh this book is not only full of innocence, but it’s full of secrets and half truths and outright lies by pretty much every character. Nosy neighbors and townsfolk. It’s also full of cicadas which hell hath no fury like a storm of cicadas raining down on the town along with storms coming up from the center of the earth. This book also showcases differences in class and race back then, and seeing it all through the eyes of a young girl.
I enjoyed this book especially once it picked up in action and then takes you down several different paths.
There is something going on with Mom and Dad but what’s wrong?
Oh this book is not only full of innocence, but it’s full of secrets and half truths and outright lies by pretty much every character. Nosy neighbors and townsfolk. It’s also full of cicadas which hell hath no fury like a storm of cicadas raining down on the town along with storms coming up from the center of the earth. This book also showcases differences in class and race back then, and seeing it all through the eyes of a young girl.
I enjoyed this book especially once it picked up in action and then takes you down several different paths.
February 21, 2022
Eleven year old Analeise Newell is growing up in a family with secrets that she can’t quite figure out.
I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from this one. I’m a huge fan of historical southern fiction, but supernatural plots usually have me rolling my eyes.
I’m so glad I decided to give this one a chance, because I could not put this book down. The tone of The Cicada Tree brought me right into the world of the story and had me searching for answers just as desperately as the main character. The Supernatural elements didn’t detract from the plot at all. They added such an amazing layer to this story. I definitely recommend this book.
I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from this one. I’m a huge fan of historical southern fiction, but supernatural plots usually have me rolling my eyes.
I’m so glad I decided to give this one a chance, because I could not put this book down. The tone of The Cicada Tree brought me right into the world of the story and had me searching for answers just as desperately as the main character. The Supernatural elements didn’t detract from the plot at all. They added such an amazing layer to this story. I definitely recommend this book.
February 18, 2022
I am really struggling how to describe this magnificent story. In simple terms it's a coming of age story set in the south in the 1950s, filled with bullying as a byproduct of racism and socioeconomic disparities. It also has mysterious and potentially supernatural elements laced with heartbreak and loss and an overall southern gothic feel. It is atmospheric, a bit spooky and absolutely captivating.
An epic debut, completely unmatched
An epic debut, completely unmatched
December 3, 2022
Southern fiction has become one of my favorite genres. I just love the detail that his writing brought into this story, it had so much depth and created such satisfying images that flowed with the story of the two girls. Analeise has always been on the outer cusp of the others for her age and Etta Mae is like an annoying little sister at home. The two are often inseparable and yet are living very different lives right along side each other. When a storm causes a school to burn down, Marlissa Mayfield will now have to attend Analeise's school, was this fate or some other intervention that brings these two together? The Mayfield's, Analeise's and Etta Mae's families have history way back and another storm is brewing that will stir more than just the dry southern air. Secrets, truths and hurts are about to be brought to the forefront and the entanglement of it all is as shocking as the mess this storm creates, literally and figuratively. I really loved this novel and cannot wait to see what he writes next.
June 2, 2025
This moody novel captured the heat and darkness of life in 50's small town Georgia, resplendent with secrets and burning with powerful whispers that oozed from the story like Gwaltney's vivid imagery and descriptions of the cicada plague.
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