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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
informative
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:
Complicated
Wow, this was full of emotions! 5 stars for the narrator, the wonderful Adjoa Andoh. Bridgerton’s Lady Danbury no less. I wonder if she got the job of Lady Danbury based off her narrating this book?
This came recommended by 2 readers I know and they did not fail me. I knew nothing of Dorothy Kirwan Thomas (Doll), a product of sexual rape (her mother’s slave owning master) sexual and human exploitation prior to reading. But I learned so much about this incredible woman and how she changed the world – yes the world, no less. This was an exceptional historical fiction and is definitely up there with the heavy hitters that I have read. The author did her due diligence in research it appears. She made the characters believable and realistic and no sh!t, evokes so many emotions!! This should be the next Netflix series to spin up for sure.
I'm sure I'm not giving this the glowing review it deserves- please read other 5 star reviews.
Highly recommend!
This came recommended by 2 readers I know and they did not fail me. I knew nothing of Dorothy Kirwan Thomas (Doll), a product of sexual rape (her mother’s slave owning master) sexual and human exploitation prior to reading. But I learned so much about this incredible woman and how she changed the world – yes the world, no less. This was an exceptional historical fiction and is definitely up there with the heavy hitters that I have read. The author did her due diligence in research it appears. She made the characters believable and realistic and no sh!t, evokes so many emotions!! This should be the next Netflix series to spin up for sure.
I'm sure I'm not giving this the glowing review it deserves- please read other 5 star reviews.
Highly recommend!
What a gorgeous, fascinating, meticulously researched novel! We follow Dorothy Kirwan from her childhood as an enslaved girl, watching as she works and climbs the social ladder, becoming one of the richest and most powerful women in the Caribbean.
This is her (mostly) true story, pulled together from public records, first and second-hand accounts of meetings with her, and legal documents. The bibliography in the back shows how impeccable and thorough the research is. It’s long but totally worth it.
This is her (mostly) true story, pulled together from public records, first and second-hand accounts of meetings with her, and legal documents. The bibliography in the back shows how impeccable and thorough the research is. It’s long but totally worth it.
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Based on a true story - An incredibly impressive woman - forthright, ambitious, takes what she wants and owns her decisions.
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“Island Queen” is a historical fiction novel based on the life of Dorothy Kirwan. Her journey begins as a slave, and she rose to become one of the wealthiest and influential entrepreneurs in the Caribbean. “Island Queen” is quite a long book filled with Vanessa Riley’s interpretations of birth certificates, financial documentations, and other anecdotes from various people in Dorothy’s life. The premise is entirely captivating; unfortunately, it fell flat for me.
First of all, considering the importance of Dorothy’s business ventures, I felt that there was far too much focus on her sexual experiences. Some are violent, and some are for pleasure, but it became far too overwhelming. Her identity became more closely tied to the men she had sex with, and it felt so counterintuitive to the proper representation of the powerhouse of a woman.
I would have loved to know more about her relationships with the slave owners who learned to respect her despite her skin color. I feel like I missed a massive chunk about how she built her business and what kind of challenges she faced along the way. I also felt like I missed some of her experiences in society. We saw some of the prejudices that she faced, but it felt so small compared to her relationships with the various men in her life.
Finally, I thought the book was well-written, but often it read as non-fiction. I felt that the artistic liberties were misplaced because they were sections that were not particularly interesting. I wanted to love this book a lot more because everyone should hear the story of Dorothy Kirwan, but I feel like it didn’t highlight her significant triumphs throughout her life.
Thank you, William Morrow and Custom House, Vaness Riley, and NetGalley for the ARC.
First of all, considering the importance of Dorothy’s business ventures, I felt that there was far too much focus on her sexual experiences. Some are violent, and some are for pleasure, but it became far too overwhelming. Her identity became more closely tied to the men she had sex with, and it felt so counterintuitive to the proper representation of the powerhouse of a woman.
I would have loved to know more about her relationships with the slave owners who learned to respect her despite her skin color. I feel like I missed a massive chunk about how she built her business and what kind of challenges she faced along the way. I also felt like I missed some of her experiences in society. We saw some of the prejudices that she faced, but it felt so small compared to her relationships with the various men in her life.
Finally, I thought the book was well-written, but often it read as non-fiction. I felt that the artistic liberties were misplaced because they were sections that were not particularly interesting. I wanted to love this book a lot more because everyone should hear the story of Dorothy Kirwan, but I feel like it didn’t highlight her significant triumphs throughout her life.
Thank you, William Morrow and Custom House, Vaness Riley, and NetGalley for the ARC.
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
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, Alcohol
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The book was mostly enjoyable and a truly inspiring story. However, it dragged on and on at times.