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the_dire_raven's review
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
barbaraskalberg's review
4.0
Amazon First Reads book from who knows how long ago...
3.5 rounded up -- Really enjoyable even if the end was a bit rushed and overly pat with some questionable character development holes.
3.5 rounded up -- Really enjoyable even if the end was a bit rushed and overly pat with some questionable character development holes.
cyee44's review
4.0
I enjoyed the book very much. It is a story of a young woman who is the daughter of a slave and a plantation owner and is able to pass as white who gets swept up in circumstances she does not expect and tries to find a better life. There were multiple things in the book that I was unable to predict, so I liked that it kept me guessing.
tyaneka's review
5.0
I couldn’t put this down!!
This book was so good! The storyline, the plot, the end! The anxiety it creates lasts all the way to the end…which I reread a couple times.
This book was so good! The storyline, the plot, the end! The anxiety it creates lasts all the way to the end…which I reread a couple times.
sashaxmillie's review
3.0
i really enjoyed the premise and themes of the story, but a lot of the characters felt underdeveloped and very
two dimensional. lots of random character development and growth with no explanation or build up.
two dimensional. lots of random character development and growth with no explanation or build up.
amrawinter's review
4.0
3.5 Stars, rounded up to 4.
Dahlia is a plantation slave, one of thirteen children born from slave women and the plantation owner, Lewis Holt. As a child, she is taken into the plantation house to be a cinderella-esque sister/servant to her half sisters. On her sixteenth birthday, she gets caught up in an incident and escapes, becoming Lily Dove and agreeing to marry (within minutes of meeting) the handsome Timothy Ross. She goes to live on the Ross plantation, and has to try to live with her deception, regardless of what happens.
I really struggled with rating this one, because there was so much I liked about it, but the ending felt super rushed and a lot of it felt unbelievable. Without giving anything away, I especially struggled with Ryland's character arc, and who agrees to marry someone they literally met five minutes ago?
Dahlia is a plantation slave, one of thirteen children born from slave women and the plantation owner, Lewis Holt. As a child, she is taken into the plantation house to be a cinderella-esque sister/servant to her half sisters. On her sixteenth birthday, she gets caught up in an incident and escapes, becoming Lily Dove and agreeing to marry (within minutes of meeting) the handsome Timothy Ross. She goes to live on the Ross plantation, and has to try to live with her deception, regardless of what happens.
I really struggled with rating this one, because there was so much I liked about it, but the ending felt super rushed and a lot of it felt unbelievable. Without giving anything away, I especially struggled with Ryland's character arc, and who agrees to marry someone they literally met five minutes ago?
pantehnreads's review
4.0
Very good book
I really enjoyed this book. Well written and our main character is complex, and shows a lot of growth and strength throughout the novel. I did not give it 5 stars because I feel the last couple chapters were rushed and I wish I could have had a bit development between our two protagonists as they moved from just friends to more. Nevertheless I really loved this book and recommend it if you like period pieces and books on race.
I really enjoyed this book. Well written and our main character is complex, and shows a lot of growth and strength throughout the novel. I did not give it 5 stars because I feel the last couple chapters were rushed and I wish I could have had a bit development between our two protagonists as they moved from just friends to more. Nevertheless I really loved this book and recommend it if you like period pieces and books on race.
mrichmondx's review
4.0
A bit of historical fiction based on real events to both finish and start the year off. Set in the mid 1800’s, this story follows Dahlia Holt: a fair skinned slave, fathered by the master of the plantation. Never really fitting in anywhere, Dahlia takes the chance to change her identity to Miss Lily Dove… unknowing of just how far she’d go.
This story brings to light incredibly important events that mustn’t be forgotten; the real impact of the slave trade in America, as well as incorporating British settlers who also fought for the confederacy, is to this day still shocking. The different characters and their backgrounds rounds this story off well. However, I was a bit disappointed at the very abrupt ending - although enjoyable.
I think this book would be perfect for readers who aren’t used to reading around the history genre as it is quite a well-flowing read and easy to follow.
This story brings to light incredibly important events that mustn’t be forgotten; the real impact of the slave trade in America, as well as incorporating British settlers who also fought for the confederacy, is to this day still shocking. The different characters and their backgrounds rounds this story off well. However, I was a bit disappointed at the very abrupt ending - although enjoyable.
I think this book would be perfect for readers who aren’t used to reading around the history genre as it is quite a well-flowing read and easy to follow.
tonimarshall84's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0