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kallmekirby's review
5.0
I read this all in one day. It was emotional and heartbreaking and I couldn’t put it down. The end felt a little rushed- I wanted more time with the characters we were with at that moment, but still 5/5 in my opinion.
d_lapri's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5
xarolyn's review
4.0
Beautiful and heartbreaking story of love, loss, and life. Steadily paced, but doesn’t lead you on any longer than necessary. Doesn’t mince words in describing the brutality of lives in slavery, but it isn’t too gory.
jcstokes95's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
This accessible historical fiction invites us to follow Rachel, a mother separated from her children by the brutal practices of slavery in the West Indies, as she searches far and wide to put her family back together. I found this to be a good primer on the culture of the time and the sense of dislocation many enslaved or formerly enslaved people might feel in a foreign land. Rachel struggles throughout to find a sense of self after violence has beaten down her spirit and her personality. Her journey across Barbados, Trinidad and British Guinea help her find her self again, as well as allies who can connect her to both her family and her purpose.
I think this book does an incredible job of dropping readers into a perspective that is unimaginable to us. While many books about slavery feel like they are told from above, it feels like we are more inside Rachel’s head. And we are forced to contend with how it might feel to lack control, not just of your own life, but over your family’s destiny. Being so inside her ratchets up an already horrifying situation.
I found the writing style easy to get into, but not necessarily as engrossing as I hoped for. I also found there to be lots of characters throughout that I could’ve spent way more time with, but I also know that’s the nature of a book about a journey. The downside is that you don’t always feel as hooked into these side characters who likely also have fascinating lives. Overall though, I am glad I’ve read this, as I do not read much written about the Caribbean, so am happy to know more perspectives of its history.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery
Moderate: Murder and Violence
alisunflowerr's review
adventurous
emotional
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
amandarosetea's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
beatlestar's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
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? No
4.0
lexibhull's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
sarahchabs's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
tense
slow-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? No
4.5
waywardvickie's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
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? Yes
4.75
4.75 stars!
This book is such a powerful tale of love and loss, freedom and the price that comes with it.
As a Caribbean woman it is so amazing to see a tale about our heritage and culture in mainstream media, to see the struggles of our ancestors personified is so powerful.
A beautifully written novel about the gray area between slavery and freedom, the emancipation of the slaves within the Caribbean and the backlash and uprisings that were involved.
This book is such a powerful tale of love and loss, freedom and the price that comes with it.
As a Caribbean woman it is so amazing to see a tale about our heritage and culture in mainstream media, to see the struggles of our ancestors personified is so powerful.
A beautifully written novel about the gray area between slavery and freedom, the emancipation of the slaves within the Caribbean and the backlash and uprisings that were involved.