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mad_about_books's review against another edition
5.0
INVISIBLE CHAINS is a perfect blend of history and magic. Although history, as presented in school, may be boring and dull, historical fiction tends to add color and context. Historical horror fiction has the added element of supernatural beings. In this case, the supernatural balances the true horror of slavery in the American South prior to the Civil War. Although written for an adult audience, mature teens could certainly benefit from reading this to better understand American history. The degree of authenticity in the depiction of depravity and cruelty to slaves is truly bloodcurdling. We can walk away from the supernatural aspects of the tale, brushing them aside as just a story. It is far more difficult to do the same with the history; at least it is for me.
Clarion prose and dynamic characters mark this debut novel as an excellent start to what should be a long an illustrious career. I found myself seeing the people and places described. I've walked on some of the mentioned streets in the French Quarter that remain timeless to this day.
I also found myself questioning just who is and who isn't a monster. Every character has two sides. This Janus-like quality is most obvious in the supernatural monsters making them easy to love and easy to fear at the same time. It is not so obvious in the white slave holders where the duality is more a two-faced nature… the face shown in white society, and the face of the bigoted slave owner.
Along with history and magic, this is a tale of our times. We see the us and them mentality every night on the news and in our social media. I find that a book such as INVISIBLE CHAINS clarifies and solidifies my own feelings that until we reach a time and place where all are truly equal we will continue to take two steps back for every forward stride.
There is no doubt that Michelle Renee Lane has made it to my 'authors I must read' list.
Clarion prose and dynamic characters mark this debut novel as an excellent start to what should be a long an illustrious career. I found myself seeing the people and places described. I've walked on some of the mentioned streets in the French Quarter that remain timeless to this day.
I also found myself questioning just who is and who isn't a monster. Every character has two sides. This Janus-like quality is most obvious in the supernatural monsters making them easy to love and easy to fear at the same time. It is not so obvious in the white slave holders where the duality is more a two-faced nature… the face shown in white society, and the face of the bigoted slave owner.
Along with history and magic, this is a tale of our times. We see the us and them mentality every night on the news and in our social media. I find that a book such as INVISIBLE CHAINS clarifies and solidifies my own feelings that until we reach a time and place where all are truly equal we will continue to take two steps back for every forward stride.
There is no doubt that Michelle Renee Lane has made it to my 'authors I must read' list.
estherbismarck's review against another edition
4.0
Al final se le va un poco la olla, pero me ha entretenido mucho más de lo que pensaba esta inesperada mezcla de vampiros, hombres lobo y esclavitud decimonónica.
espectrosocial's review against another edition
2.0
No puedo decir que sea un mal libro, simplemente no soy muy fan de la combinación resultante entre novela histórica (esclavitud antes de la guerra de Secesión), vampiros, hombres lobos, vudú, un circo de monstruos... Es too much para mí. Y el caso es que quería me gustara, pero aunque empieza genial, desde el momento en que Jacqueline (la protaonista) abandona la plantación para irse a Nueva Orleans, decae totalmente. Ojo, decae mi interés por la trama, puesto que empiezan a pasar muchas cosas de golpe y todas suceden muy deprisa.
Me ha faltado profundización en los personajes, sobre todo los secundarios. También en la construcción de las escenas, que a mi parecer tienen muy poco detalle. En ocasiones no sabía exactamente qué era lo que estaba ocurriendo. Tampoco he terminado de entender las motivaciones de los personajes, como la abuela de Jaqueline o el hombre lobo. No sé, tengo la sensación de que hay algo que no encaja. La novela entretiene, pero poco más. No estaba a la altura de lo que esperaba.
He visto muy buenas reseñas, así que espero que la mía no os disuada de leer a esta autora, porque si lo que buscáis es entretenimiento mezclado con un pelín (poquito) de terror y mucho romance, os hará pasar un buen rato. Yo he vislumbrado toques de Crepúsculo y como el tema está tan gastado, me han dado ganas de salir corriendo.
Me ha faltado profundización en los personajes, sobre todo los secundarios. También en la construcción de las escenas, que a mi parecer tienen muy poco detalle. En ocasiones no sabía exactamente qué era lo que estaba ocurriendo. Tampoco he terminado de entender las motivaciones de los personajes, como la abuela de Jaqueline o el hombre lobo. No sé, tengo la sensación de que hay algo que no encaja. La novela entretiene, pero poco más. No estaba a la altura de lo que esperaba.
He visto muy buenas reseñas, así que espero que la mía no os disuada de leer a esta autora, porque si lo que buscáis es entretenimiento mezclado con un pelín (poquito) de terror y mucho romance, os hará pasar un buen rato. Yo he vislumbrado toques de Crepúsculo y como el tema está tan gastado, me han dado ganas de salir corriendo.
migrex's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
the_bookubus's review against another edition
3.0
"Control over others can be exciting for some folks, but as a slave, experiencing how it twisted people, I wasn't sure I wanted that kind of power over another person."
Jacqueline is a slave at a plantation who ends up on the run after she meets a vampire. She meets various people on her journey, including some who help her and some who have other motives, while her former owner is trying to track her down.
I thought there was an interesting combination of elements here and it was well written. The character of Jacqueline is a complex one as she has spent so many years in slavery and now, following a chain of events, has to fend for herself and both rely on the help of others and use her own knowledge and skills to stay alive. She is a very sympathetic character, knowing all she has been through, so I was invested in her journey but I must admit her decision-making frustrated me at times!
My main issue with this story was that it felt like things would just 'happen'. There was always the right person conveniently showing up at the right time for a specific scene. Some ideas within the story felt a bit underdeveloped such as the part involving the circus. Also, some things felt repetitive both with regards to details that would get mentioned again and again plus certain parts of the storyline felt quite repetitive.
I went into this novel expecting horror but I would describe this as more of an urban fantasy in a historical setting with some magical realism and horror elements. I'm not sure if this is meant to be the first book in a series but it feels like it might be. The story does wrap up by the end but it also very much leaves it open for a sequel. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys the themes and styles that I've mentioned.
CW: Violence, sexual violence, rape, and incest - some of which involves children.
Jacqueline is a slave at a plantation who ends up on the run after she meets a vampire. She meets various people on her journey, including some who help her and some who have other motives, while her former owner is trying to track her down.
I thought there was an interesting combination of elements here and it was well written. The character of Jacqueline is a complex one as she has spent so many years in slavery and now, following a chain of events, has to fend for herself and both rely on the help of others and use her own knowledge and skills to stay alive. She is a very sympathetic character, knowing all she has been through, so I was invested in her journey but I must admit her decision-making frustrated me at times!
My main issue with this story was that it felt like things would just 'happen'. There was always the right person conveniently showing up at the right time for a specific scene. Some ideas within the story felt a bit underdeveloped such as the part involving the circus. Also, some things felt repetitive both with regards to details that would get mentioned again and again plus certain parts of the storyline felt quite repetitive.
I went into this novel expecting horror but I would describe this as more of an urban fantasy in a historical setting with some magical realism and horror elements. I'm not sure if this is meant to be the first book in a series but it feels like it might be. The story does wrap up by the end but it also very much leaves it open for a sequel. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys the themes and styles that I've mentioned.
CW: Violence, sexual violence, rape, and incest - some of which involves children.
arnzen's review against another edition
Whoa. Invisible Chains is no mere paranormal romance; it is an interstitial horror novel that unravels the way power and desire overlap in dangerous and complex ways, particularly in relation to racial relations and cultural taboo. It's a smart book, infused with history, folklore about vampirism and voodoo, cultural studies, and psychological honesty... but it also is just a compelling read filled with the viciousness and gumption I appreciate from my horror writers. It'll set you back on your heels. The characters are unique yet I connected to their longings and struggles, and I admired the way Lane pulled it off. Michelle Lane makes you dream carefully alongside her protagonist, and it's a compelling, fascinating read. We need more books like this -- we need more Michelle Lane.
evavroslin's review against another edition
5.0
** Review copy received from the author for review consideration**
As soon as I read the description of this novel online, having come across it on Twitter, I wanted to tell the author: you had me at New Orleans and witches. Add to that a plantation, a historical southern setting, and Vodun (the West African tradition that became Louisiana voodoo), and you’ve got me hook, line, and sinker. The novel starts off in an interesting way with the protagonist relaying to the reader that a hurricane “nearly destroyed” the plantation on the day she was born.
I absolutely loved the design element of using a vèvè or symbol that represents the loa, or voodoo spirits, to demarcate scene breaks.
The protagonist Jacqueline’s family life is cruel to say the least. She is one of the many children the plantation master has had with slave women, and is forced to interact with Lottie, the master’s daughter, her half-sister. She and her mother are house slaves, and Jacqueline notices early on she seems to have some of the same gifts her mother does with magic. She has nightmares about a white man with green eyes, which proves to be a compelling introduction to a memorable character in the book who arrives later on.
Lottie soon reveals herself to be extremely manipulative and volatile. Her older brother, Jimmy, also shares her penchant for cruelty, especially toward the slaves. There’s a very disturbing component to their relationship, and I’m going to leave it at that. Physical assault, which is painfully a reality of the historical period, occurs in this novel, and should be taken into account for readers with trigger warnings. The remorseless and unflinching realities of slavery are on full display in this novel.
Jacqueline learns early on that she has some magical ability, something she gets from her mother. When Lottie marries a man named James Lynch, she takes Jacqueline with her and they move to the French Quarter where there are other slaves in the household. The rich, vivid descriptions made the novel jump off the page for me throughout, but particularly in this section. Things get even more interesting when a guest arrives at their house, Carlos Velasquez, who turns out to be a vampire.
Vampires + French Quarter + New Orleans + night = doesn’t get much cooler than that. One of the things I appreciated about Jacqueline was that even though she and Carlos have a vivid attraction and want each other, she didn’t blindly forgive his vampiric nature or look past it the way many other female protagonists have done in paranormal romance or YA novels, nor does she form part of the “Oh, but I’m different, I can handle it” trope. It has always frustrated me when they see the viciousness of the vampire’s feeding and the way they take what they want, especially when sex is involved, and somehow this doesn’t bother them, so I was glad to see that Jacqueline didn’t just sweep this under the rug as it involved Carlos. The author also balanced this quite well with Jacqueline’s desire for Carlos, making it clear how much of a temptation he is, and making the reader question his sincerity at every turn.
A werewolf gets involved in things, and even though it sort of ends up teasing Twilight territory, it avoids the love triangle trope for the most part. Carlos warns Jacqueline that she won’t recognize the wolf when it appears to her in human form, insisting it will try to deceive her and do her harm. She also has adventures with some circus folk later on, and then moves to a town where she discovers some family secrets, which is all I’m going to say because I don’t want to spoil how immersive and amazing this section was.
Despite some pacing issues toward the end, which felt a bit rushed, I could not put this book down. I can’t describe how amazing it is. Readers need to read it for themselves to experience how immersive, captivating, and compelling Invisible Chains is. Folks who enjoy romance and historical fiction mixed with in with their fantasy novels will get a huge kick out of this story as I did. If that happens not to be your cup of tea, then you may wish to go for other fare, but I would encourage readers to read this novel because it’s not a straight-up romance novel. It focuses on Jacqueline’s journey, all the people she meets along the way, the struggles she endures, and is one of the best novels of the year. Do yourself a favour and add Invisible Chains to your reading list.
As soon as I read the description of this novel online, having come across it on Twitter, I wanted to tell the author: you had me at New Orleans and witches. Add to that a plantation, a historical southern setting, and Vodun (the West African tradition that became Louisiana voodoo), and you’ve got me hook, line, and sinker. The novel starts off in an interesting way with the protagonist relaying to the reader that a hurricane “nearly destroyed” the plantation on the day she was born.
I absolutely loved the design element of using a vèvè or symbol that represents the loa, or voodoo spirits, to demarcate scene breaks.
The protagonist Jacqueline’s family life is cruel to say the least. She is one of the many children the plantation master has had with slave women, and is forced to interact with Lottie, the master’s daughter, her half-sister. She and her mother are house slaves, and Jacqueline notices early on she seems to have some of the same gifts her mother does with magic. She has nightmares about a white man with green eyes, which proves to be a compelling introduction to a memorable character in the book who arrives later on.
Lottie soon reveals herself to be extremely manipulative and volatile. Her older brother, Jimmy, also shares her penchant for cruelty, especially toward the slaves. There’s a very disturbing component to their relationship, and I’m going to leave it at that. Physical assault, which is painfully a reality of the historical period, occurs in this novel, and should be taken into account for readers with trigger warnings. The remorseless and unflinching realities of slavery are on full display in this novel.
Jacqueline learns early on that she has some magical ability, something she gets from her mother. When Lottie marries a man named James Lynch, she takes Jacqueline with her and they move to the French Quarter where there are other slaves in the household. The rich, vivid descriptions made the novel jump off the page for me throughout, but particularly in this section. Things get even more interesting when a guest arrives at their house, Carlos Velasquez, who turns out to be a vampire.
Vampires + French Quarter + New Orleans + night = doesn’t get much cooler than that. One of the things I appreciated about Jacqueline was that even though she and Carlos have a vivid attraction and want each other, she didn’t blindly forgive his vampiric nature or look past it the way many other female protagonists have done in paranormal romance or YA novels, nor does she form part of the “Oh, but I’m different, I can handle it” trope. It has always frustrated me when they see the viciousness of the vampire’s feeding and the way they take what they want, especially when sex is involved, and somehow this doesn’t bother them, so I was glad to see that Jacqueline didn’t just sweep this under the rug as it involved Carlos. The author also balanced this quite well with Jacqueline’s desire for Carlos, making it clear how much of a temptation he is, and making the reader question his sincerity at every turn.
A werewolf gets involved in things, and even though it sort of ends up teasing Twilight territory, it avoids the love triangle trope for the most part. Carlos warns Jacqueline that she won’t recognize the wolf when it appears to her in human form, insisting it will try to deceive her and do her harm. She also has adventures with some circus folk later on, and then moves to a town where she discovers some family secrets, which is all I’m going to say because I don’t want to spoil how immersive and amazing this section was.
Despite some pacing issues toward the end, which felt a bit rushed, I could not put this book down. I can’t describe how amazing it is. Readers need to read it for themselves to experience how immersive, captivating, and compelling Invisible Chains is. Folks who enjoy romance and historical fiction mixed with in with their fantasy novels will get a huge kick out of this story as I did. If that happens not to be your cup of tea, then you may wish to go for other fare, but I would encourage readers to read this novel because it’s not a straight-up romance novel. It focuses on Jacqueline’s journey, all the people she meets along the way, the struggles she endures, and is one of the best novels of the year. Do yourself a favour and add Invisible Chains to your reading list.
tracyreads's review
3.0
As noted in the synopsis, this is a slice of historical fiction which follows the life of a young girl as she navigates the world as a slave in antebellum New Orleans. Mix in supernatural characters, blood magic, and so many trials and tribulations, and you have this horror/dark fantasy story.
This was such a good introduction to Lane’s writing. For the most part I was engaged and invested in finding out where this story would take the MC, Jacqueline. I loved cheering for her and lamenting the awful conditions and unfair situations she encountered. CW for rape and abuse for anyone who may need it. There are several scenes throughout the book that are, necessarily so, difficult to read.
I found myself wanting more in certain sections. There are jumps in the action which cut out scenes I would have loved to experience first hand. I get why they aren’t there, to perhaps keep the focus on a different narrative, but I missed them all the same.
Will I read another book or short fiction by Lane? Absolutely. And if historical, southern, horror-ish fiction is your jam, you’ll love this. Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy for review consideration.
This was such a good introduction to Lane’s writing. For the most part I was engaged and invested in finding out where this story would take the MC, Jacqueline. I loved cheering for her and lamenting the awful conditions and unfair situations she encountered. CW for rape and abuse for anyone who may need it. There are several scenes throughout the book that are, necessarily so, difficult to read.
I found myself wanting more in certain sections. There are jumps in the action which cut out scenes I would have loved to experience first hand. I get why they aren’t there, to perhaps keep the focus on a different narrative, but I missed them all the same.
Will I read another book or short fiction by Lane? Absolutely. And if historical, southern, horror-ish fiction is your jam, you’ll love this. Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy for review consideration.
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