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aqtbenz's review
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Kidnapping, Slavery, Death, and Sexual content
arthur_pendrgn's review against another edition
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
There really are logic errors in this book.
1. How is Hester, educated and land rich, so poor? No chickens or garden? How is she feeding all of these passengers on the underground railroad? Is she buying that much food and no one is suspicious?
2. Why is Galen, who helps slaves escape, insistent on going outside knowing slave catchers are in the area hunting him?
3. Why would Hester leave her papers in an empty house?
4. What is the purpose of meeting Ginette or the entire ball scene in terms of the plot?
5. Nothing happens to Bea, who betrayed all of the townspeople, but Lem is killed?
6. Why would Hester trust Jenine / Foster in that climactic scene?
7. Why does Gerrold, who knows someone is trying to kidnap Hester, leave her?
8. What information could Gerrold get at the house that he couldn't get by going with Hester to the jail?
9. Hester believes that love makes you lose your mind, yet has no problem with a man who humiliates her into marriage / ruins her reputation if she doesn't say yes and keeps sneaking into her house at night?
Then the suspension of disbelief is strained to the point of breaking that Hester, at 9, did not realize the evils of slavery or what enslavement meant as well as Galen's "Christmas surprise."
1. How is Hester, educated and land rich, so poor? No chickens or garden? How is she feeding all of these passengers on the underground railroad? Is she buying that much food and no one is suspicious?
2. Why is Galen, who helps slaves escape, insistent on going outside knowing slave catchers are in the area hunting him?
3. Why would Hester leave her papers in an empty house?
4. What is the purpose of meeting Ginette or the entire ball scene in terms of the plot?
5. Nothing happens to Bea, who betrayed all of the townspeople, but Lem is killed?
6. Why would Hester trust Jenine / Foster in that climactic scene?
7. Why does Gerrold, who knows someone is trying to kidnap Hester, leave her?
8. What information could Gerrold get at the house that he couldn't get by going with Hester to the jail?
9. Hester believes that love makes you lose your mind, yet has no problem with a man who humiliates her into marriage / ruins her reputation if she doesn't say yes and keeps sneaking into her house at night?
Then the suspension of disbelief is strained to the point of breaking that Hester, at 9, did not realize the evils of slavery or what enslavement meant as well as Galen's "Christmas surprise."
Content Warnings
Moderate: Slavery and Racism
Minor: Racial slurs, Death, Gun violence, and Kidnapping
toffishay's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
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? No
3.75
I really loved this romance, I mean I read it all in a day! Hester, or as Galen calls her Indigo, is an amazing main character. She is strong and funny and kind! I love the relationship that she develops with Galen. Even though Galen is arrogant, I found him very lovable. It is certainly a romance of its time, and Galen can be a little hard to connect to at times because he can steamroll others at times. But overall, I really enjoyed this story. As a Black woman from Michigan, I also really appreciate the real history about Black life in the mid-late 1800s, the role that Michigan played in the Underground Railroad, and a slice of the political and social landscape at that time. I believe that fiction can be a great way to learn and Beverly Jenkins always does an awesome job balancing education with romance. It was all a piece of life at that time and books like this are an important part of telling that history and keeping it alive.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Racism
Moderate: Kidnapping, Hate crime, Sexism, Infidelity, Classism, Misogyny, Bullying, Grief, Violence, Trafficking, Gun violence, Slavery, and Murder
Minor: Fatphobia, War, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Colonisation, Alcohol, Sexual assault, Murder, and Cursing
jessiewolf's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This book has a lot of good feeling and a lot of great scenes. Altogether I thought the pacing was off, but the story is good!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, and Slavery
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