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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
adventurous
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I love historical fiction and desperately wanted to love this unique sounding historical fiction epic about a formidable Black woman. However while the historical details and descriptions were richly portrayed from dresses to furniture, the rest of the novel fell flat. This novel is also guilty of a trait I've often read about in reviews of historical fiction but never personally encountered, Dorothy's voice was often too modern, the dialogue too contemporary. It was unsettling and something that I felt could easily have been changed by an attentive editor. The book also needed an editor to cut it down drastically. The story is told in very distracting 2-4 page chapter fragments but instead of being a short read it drags on (unnecessarily) for 592 pages. What's even more disappointing is that the majority of those pages are spent focused on men. I didn't think this was a romance so I was frustrated by the constant focus on Dorothy's many paramours as opposed to her family or business acumen. I wanted to know more about her friendship with the women in the Entertainment Society, and to know more about her businesses, how she ran them, how she achieved all that she did. For such a long book it's very short on key details or interesting thoughts.
Given the focus on Dorothy's romantic conquests I wish there'd been a character map or family tree because it was very difficult to keep track of who was who and whose child was whose. I missed some heightened drama because I never remembered which partner she was lying to about paternity. We also don't see her interact with the men much beyond their initial encounter with the exception of Cells and Thomas. I love a sexually empowered woman but we're mostly told that's the case, we see very little of their encounters. The story is also told in a very confusing fashion, there's dual timelines but they never overlap and a dramatic showdown is hinted at in the opening of the story but the eventual meeting is very lackluster. I do appreciate that Riley presented Dorothy in all her slave owning complexity, having her wrestle with it and present reasons as to why she might have made the decision that she did. Her behavior isn't excused but I appreciated the speculation. I also liked that Dorothy's faith and family were important to her even though we never really understand why or see her interact much with her family beyond her children. While the children all blended together for me the author makes an interesting choice to have Dorothy suffer from postpartum depression and that storyline is movingly depicted. But ultimately those things were not enough to salvage this lengthy historical fiction story.
ISLAND QUEEN is a somewhat enjoyable, poorly executed historical fiction novel about an incredible woman who deserved better from both the author and the world. The characters needed more depth, especially Dorothy and the focus of the novel needed to tighten with less expository and repetitive writing. There are also a few things left unsaid or unexplored, such as why Dorothy is illiterate. I didn't understand why the author contrived a plotline about postpartum depression but skipped an important, actual fact about Dorothy's life that would have been fascinating to probe. Will this make an exquisite TV series or mini series? I think so. The story is very cinematic and I can see this getting the Bridgerton treatment since the author spends so much time focused on the men. But I wish it had showcased more of Dorothy's wit and entrepreneurial drive along with her risque escapades.
Given the focus on Dorothy's romantic conquests I wish there'd been a character map or family tree because it was very difficult to keep track of who was who and whose child was whose. I missed some heightened drama because I never remembered which partner she was lying to about paternity. We also don't see her interact with the men much beyond their initial encounter with the exception of Cells and Thomas. I love a sexually empowered woman but we're mostly told that's the case, we see very little of their encounters. The story is also told in a very confusing fashion, there's dual timelines but they never overlap and a dramatic showdown is hinted at in the opening of the story but the eventual meeting is very lackluster. I do appreciate that Riley presented Dorothy in all her slave owning complexity, having her wrestle with it and present reasons as to why she might have made the decision that she did. Her behavior isn't excused but I appreciated the speculation. I also liked that Dorothy's faith and family were important to her even though we never really understand why or see her interact much with her family beyond her children. While the children all blended together for me the author makes an interesting choice to have Dorothy suffer from postpartum depression and that storyline is movingly depicted. But ultimately those things were not enough to salvage this lengthy historical fiction story.
ISLAND QUEEN is a somewhat enjoyable, poorly executed historical fiction novel about an incredible woman who deserved better from both the author and the world. The characters needed more depth, especially Dorothy and the focus of the novel needed to tighten with less expository and repetitive writing. There are also a few things left unsaid or unexplored, such as why Dorothy is illiterate. I didn't understand why the author contrived a plotline about postpartum depression but skipped an important, actual fact about Dorothy's life that would have been fascinating to probe. Will this make an exquisite TV series or mini series? I think so. The story is very cinematic and I can see this getting the Bridgerton treatment since the author spends so much time focused on the men. But I wish it had showcased more of Dorothy's wit and entrepreneurial drive along with her risque escapades.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’ll be honest, historical fiction is not a genre I typically read. Yet, there was something about this book’s cover and blurb that pulled me in and let me tell you, it did not disappoint.
Mrs. Dorothy Kirwan Thomas is a fierce, loving, intuitive, courageous, and stubborn black woman. Overcoming many challenges from growing up in slavery, to buying her own and her family’s freedom, to building an empire, she never wavered in working towards providing a better life for her loved ones. Author Vanessa Riley shows her due diligence of her research to show these aspects of Dorothy’s life.
However, I was a little upset that there was more focus on Dorothy’s love interests rather than her business and family relationships. Now, this may be because there was not much documentation from Dorothy’s point of view given her lack of literacy. None the less, I was wanting to “feel” her struggles, her losses, and her gains and in my opinion I think this was lacking. Hence the four stars.
Given the triggers this book encompasses from rape, incest, abuse, racism, plus others associated with the time frame of 1746-1846 this was a compelling story to read. It shows how love, strength, courage, and family can overcome even the dire of circumstances. Mrs. Dorothy Kirwan Thomas is an inspiration to not only woman of color, but to all woman and I’m privileged that I had an opportunity to read about her.
Mrs. Dorothy Kirwan Thomas is a fierce, loving, intuitive, courageous, and stubborn black woman. Overcoming many challenges from growing up in slavery, to buying her own and her family’s freedom, to building an empire, she never wavered in working towards providing a better life for her loved ones. Author Vanessa Riley shows her due diligence of her research to show these aspects of Dorothy’s life.
However, I was a little upset that there was more focus on Dorothy’s love interests rather than her business and family relationships. Now, this may be because there was not much documentation from Dorothy’s point of view given her lack of literacy. None the less, I was wanting to “feel” her struggles, her losses, and her gains and in my opinion I think this was lacking. Hence the four stars.
Given the triggers this book encompasses from rape, incest, abuse, racism, plus others associated with the time frame of 1746-1846 this was a compelling story to read. It shows how love, strength, courage, and family can overcome even the dire of circumstances. Mrs. Dorothy Kirwan Thomas is an inspiration to not only woman of color, but to all woman and I’m privileged that I had an opportunity to read about her.
adventurous
emotional
informative
reflective
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Incest, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Slavery, Colonisation
Moderate: Antisemitism
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
I just couldn't get into this book. The writing was so poor; one-dimensional. The characters felt flat and mechanical. After a point I couldn't keep track of who was who. I honestly should have just stopped mid-way but that's not my style and had to suffer through it for two weeks.
I believe that Dorothy Kirwan's story is worth telling but not in this way. I'm disappointed because I was looking forward to reading.
I believe that Dorothy Kirwan's story is worth telling but not in this way. I'm disappointed because I was looking forward to reading.
I was so excited to read Island Queen, but unfortunately I didn't love it like I had expected. I do love a long book if the story is done well, but I think this could have been more tightly edited. The story itself was interesting but there were too many parts that felt like filler and made the story drag a bit. The story felt like it was both too much and too little at once. There are a lot of characters that orbit around Dorothy that are important to her and how and why she is the driven woman that she is, but there are so many that they don't feel as well developed and impactful as I thought they probably should have felt. There are also important historical events and people that Dorothy is associated with that felt almost wedged into the story. I'm having a hard time expressing exactly what threw me off of this one, and I almost put it down a little more than halfway in, but I'm glad that I pushed through and finished it.
Trigger warnings: incest, rape, death of children
Where you can find me:
•(♥).•*Monica Is Reading*•.(♥)•
Twitter: @monicaisreading
Instagram: @readermonica
Goodreads Group: The Black Bookcase
Trigger warnings: incest, rape, death of children
Where you can find me:
•(♥).•*Monica Is Reading*•.(♥)•
Twitter: @monicaisreading
Instagram: @readermonica
Goodreads Group: The Black Bookcase
ISLAND QUEEN is the exquisitely written story of Dorothy "Dolly" Kirwan Thomas, an enslaved girl from the Caribbean island of Monserrat who goes on to buy her freedom and become one of the wealthiest landowners in the West Indies. The craziest part - even more unbelievable than her affair with the future King of England - is that the story is true!
Dolly is the ultimate survivor, escaping her life as a slave on her Irish father's plantation and abuse by her half-brother that leaves her with two children to become an entrepreneur who travels the world and has men falling at her feet. Riley vividly describes Dolly's extraordinary life - her 10 children (all of whom she made sure were free along with other family members), her multiple lovers, the wealth she acquired and how she managed it, and the struggles she endured to show that no matter her gender or color, she deserved everything she'd earned. It's impossible not to be blown away by her strength, perseverance and accomplishments. My one quibble was that there's a dual timeline (one in 1824 when Dolly is already successful and in London and another that starts in 1761 when she's five and we get a chronological telling of her story) that felt unnecessary and was a bit confusing at first. But stick with it and all 592 pages of this amazing story of a woman who defied all odds and wrote her own rules during a time when women and people of color were horribly oppressed. This Island Queen deserves to be a household name.
4.5 stars
Thanks to William Morris Custom House and NetGalley for a copy to review.
Dolly is the ultimate survivor, escaping her life as a slave on her Irish father's plantation and abuse by her half-brother that leaves her with two children to become an entrepreneur who travels the world and has men falling at her feet. Riley vividly describes Dolly's extraordinary life - her 10 children (all of whom she made sure were free along with other family members), her multiple lovers, the wealth she acquired and how she managed it, and the struggles she endured to show that no matter her gender or color, she deserved everything she'd earned. It's impossible not to be blown away by her strength, perseverance and accomplishments. My one quibble was that there's a dual timeline (one in 1824 when Dolly is already successful and in London and another that starts in 1761 when she's five and we get a chronological telling of her story) that felt unnecessary and was a bit confusing at first. But stick with it and all 592 pages of this amazing story of a woman who defied all odds and wrote her own rules during a time when women and people of color were horribly oppressed. This Island Queen deserves to be a household name.
4.5 stars
Thanks to William Morris Custom House and NetGalley for a copy to review.
emotional
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I adore Vanessa Riley’s racially diverse historical romance and am in awe of her research, so I was hyped for Island Queen, her historical fiction about Dorothy “Dolly” Kirwan Thomas, a woman who rose from slavery to becoming a prominent landowner in the Caribbean.
I didn’t realize until I picked it up how epic and big of a book it is, as I was determined to go in blind. But while the book’s size daunted me, I was quickly swept up in the saga of Dolly’s life. There are moments I feel that the book could have been cut down some, and at times the timeline skipping back and forth on occasion was a bit confusing. But I appreciate that Riley was given more or less free reign to tell Dolly’s story in as many words/pages as she felt necessary.
Riley’s dual background in historical research and romance comes through despite the genre change. There’s a lot of emphasis on her interpersonal relationships, and I’ve definitely seen reviews of people who didn’t enjoy it, to the point of derision of the romance genre. I feel like the romantic relationships are an important facet of Dolly’s character, and I admittedly liked that there was emphasis on that just as much as about how she managed to build herself up into a success. Riley being a historical romance novelist likely informs the strong romantic focus of the novel, and while people are entitled to like what they like, I’m inclined to wonder if they knew about Riley’s background prior and if knowing would have influenced their decision to pick up this book.
One aspect of Dolly’s life that has intrigued and perplexed me since Riley first announced this project was how Dolly owned slaves, which then led me down a rabbit hole of research into Black slave owners, both compassionate and not. While Riley acknowledges we cannot know how Dolly truly felt, I appreciate how she approached the situation, leaning on the side of Dolly working within the system to save the enslaved people from more corrupt masters. And the way this was also reflected in-text in her interactions with Prince William, whose opinions on slavery notoriously devolved as he got older, culminated in a great power moment for her upon their reunion.
This is such a hard book to recommend an audience for, given the “mainstream” historical fiction fans seem to think it’s too “romance-y.” Based on my own experience, I’m certain those familiar with Vanessa Riley’s prior work will adore it. And anyone looking for a book exploring the nuances of Black and women’s history should give it a try to see if they enjoy it.