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jessica_stenstrom's review
emotional
informative
tense
fast-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? No
5.0
marinaemoore's review against another edition
dark
informative
inspiring
sad
fast-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
5.0
texasjules's review
emotional
informative
inspiring
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
3.25
laurendz's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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? Yes
4.25
megn317's review
4.0
I love a good historical fiction. I was invested in how each characters story would end. It reads quickly bc the chapters are short even though it bounces from each character.
missywhidden's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
sad
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
4.25
katieurban's review
5.0
This book is why I love historical fiction. It was clear the novel was well researched, with the author basing several characters on actual people who survived one of early America's deadliest tragedies, the Richmond Theater Fire of 1811. Before reading this, I knew nothing about this historical tragedy: the fire was the worst urban disaster at the time, resulting in the death of 72 people, the majority of whom were women.
The story begins with the night of the fire and progresses from there, maintaining suspense and tension throughout the entire book. The novel centers around four characters - Jack, a young stagehand who has an active role in the start of the fire; Sally, a newly widowed, childless woman; Cecily, an abused young black slave acting as a chaperone for her white mistress, and Gilbert, an enslaved black man who ends up rescuing multiple white women from the theater.
This book reminded me why I love reading historical fiction. The author gives the reader such a firm grasp on the setting and time period. Slaves had no rights and women at the time had so little rights as well. For example, a widowed woman typically lost everything once her husband died, and it was a time when a man might prefer a dead wife rather than a "damaged" wife with an amputated limb.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Thanks to NetGalley for the early copy.
The story begins with the night of the fire and progresses from there, maintaining suspense and tension throughout the entire book. The novel centers around four characters - Jack, a young stagehand who has an active role in the start of the fire; Sally, a newly widowed, childless woman; Cecily, an abused young black slave acting as a chaperone for her white mistress, and Gilbert, an enslaved black man who ends up rescuing multiple white women from the theater.
This book reminded me why I love reading historical fiction. The author gives the reader such a firm grasp on the setting and time period. Slaves had no rights and women at the time had so little rights as well. For example, a widowed woman typically lost everything once her husband died, and it was a time when a man might prefer a dead wife rather than a "damaged" wife with an amputated limb.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Thanks to NetGalley for the early copy.
book_lizard42's review
2.0
This one wasn't for me. I feel lied to by NPR. Gripping? I sped the audio up to 2x speed, and still nothing. There is more urgency in "Once Upon A Potty." People were jumping out of 3rd story windows, for Pete's sake, and yet they were as humanized as the set dressings. Less, really, because the chandelier at least got better billing.
It seems like the author makes a huge effort to not create any problematic heroes, they are completely unrealistic. The characters we were supposed to hate were racist, sexist, ableist. The ones we're supposed to like could hold a seat on any good DEAI committee. They're genuinely shocked when they experience any sexism, they speak out against racism (even though they own slaves), they fight against ableist notions. It's supposed to be 1811. The country is still very young, and such open-mindedness takes me right out of the story. Instead of feeling empathy or rage on behalf of the marginalized characters, I sighed. Weirdly, the most heroic was in reality an ex-slave, but for the story, he's in bondage.
It seems like the author makes a huge effort to not create any problematic heroes, they are completely unrealistic. The characters we were supposed to hate were racist, sexist, ableist. The ones we're supposed to like could hold a seat on any good DEAI committee. They're genuinely shocked when they experience any sexism, they speak out against racism (even though they own slaves), they fight against ableist notions. It's supposed to be 1811. The country is still very young, and such open-mindedness takes me right out of the story. Instead of feeling empathy or rage on behalf of the marginalized characters, I sighed. Weirdly, the most heroic was in reality an ex-slave, but for the story, he's in bondage.